Tuesday, july 7, 2015 binder1 by Newtelegraphonline

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS /newtelegraph

Vol. 2 No. 503

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

Police quiz National Assembly Clerk over ‘doctored’ Senate rules}6 EDUCATION

YABATECH: Where students sleep in classrooms }23

CBN restricts use of naira denominated cards Tony Chukwunyem

in continuation of its forex curbs, has said that such cards would not be allowed for crossborder payments. In a circular to banks posted on its website yesterday, the apex bank stated that where a company requires a card for

hree months after it reviewed downwards the existing limit on the usage of naira denominated cards for transactions overseas, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),

overseas payments, such firms should be encouraged to obtain foreign currency denominated cards, which would be issued against its domiciliary account, prepaid or credit card, “whose limits must be in line with the existing BTA provisions.”

The CBN further directed that henceforth banks must submit reports of all naira-denominated card transactions consummated overseas to the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) on a daily basis. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

FG empties Excess Crude Account

lThree tiers of government to share $1.7bn balance }2 QuickRead

How we planned Ikorodu }10 robberies –Suspects

BEHOLD THE IKORODU 'ROBBERS': L-R: Suspected robbers – Promise Abiwa, Agbojule Bright, Monday Omoboye a.k.a Alarm Blow and Monday Ikuesan – that raided Ikorodu banks being paraded at the Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday. …

PHOTOS: TONY EGUAYE

Death toll rises to 44 in Jos bomb blasts

l47 injured as US offers Nigeria assistance }2

Abia North }47 Election: Tribunal starts pre-hearing on Kalu’s petition Nnamani blasts APC leaders over N'Assembly crisis }5

El-Rufai abolishes joint account in Kaduna }49

News

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG empties Excess Crude Account Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he Federal Government has taken a final step to liquidate the Excess Crude Account (ECA) whose management has been an issue of controversy, especially between states and the central government. Following the decision, which was taken after a meeting President Muhammadu Buhari held yesterday with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastasia Nwaobia, and Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris, among other top officials, the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) is set to distribute among the three tiers of government about $1.7 billion (N391 billion) left in the account by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Yesterday's decision came barely a week after Buhari, while inaugurating the National Economic Council (NEC) in Abuja, directed that henceforth; all revenues accruing to the country should be remitted to the Federation Account before distribution among the three tiers of government. The administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo had in 2004 set up the ECA where surplus from the defined oil benchmark as fixed in the budget would be saved for augment of the federation revenue in case of disruption in the stream of income, largely from the oil sales. As a result of the sharp rise in oil price, funds in ECA ballooned to over $20 billion by November 2008, from $5.1 billion in 2005. But by June 2010, the account had dropped to about $4 billion due to budget deficits at all levels of government and the steep drop in oil prices. States were not happy with the establishment of ECA and had queried the power of the Federal Government to force them to save with some arguing that the government did not seek their consent before setting up ECA. State governors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) had taken the fight over the establishment of ECA to the Supreme Court for adjudication. They had asked the Supreme Court to declare ECA illegal but the case has made no headway in court as it has suffered many adjournments. FAAC members, com-

prising commissioners of finance of the 36 states of the federation and the Accountant-General of the Federation met yesterday in Abuja where they were expected to consider the funds remaining in the ECA account for sharing among the Federal Government, 36 states and the 774 local government councils. Idris told State House correspondents after the meeting with the president that the amount would be distributed based on approved formula. The $1.7 billion to be distributed is, however, less than the $2 billion, which Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, had told reporters at the NEC inauguration was remaining in the ECA. On the current state of the ECA, Idris said: "It is hovering between $1.6 and $1.7 billion and that is what we are going to distribute among all the three tiers of governments, the federal, states and local govern-

ments based on the approved formula." On the sharing of the money, he said: "Even today (yesterday) we are going to meet. The FAAC is going to meet and we are going to distribute as agreed and directed during the NEC meeting last week, and the position is very clear. What we met on ground is what we are going to distribute." The NEC, at its inaugural meeting with VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo, had also directed FAAC to distribute funds in the ECA to the tiers of government to cushion the effects of the financial crisis facing the country, especially states many of which are in arrears of paying workers' salaries. Idris said in line with the directive of the president, his office was working to ensure prudent management of all revenues accruing to the country. "Well, the general message is clear; Mr. President had a clear direction and

we all have to fall in line. This entails prudence management of resources and identifying more alternative ways of generating revenue, which we are set to do and to manage very efficiently and effectively the meagre resources we have for the betterment of the economy," he added. Nwaobia had earlier led Idris to the meeting with the president where they made further clarification of the handover notes from the ministry as presented by the immediate past administration. Nwaobia, in an interaction with State House reporters, said: "We are basically here to brief the president on the activities of the Ministry of Finance. Well routinely, we go on with our work, our functions as the Ministry of Finance have not stopped. Government is a continuum so all our mandates and functions we will continue to implement them as required." She assured Nigerians

that the state of the nation's finances was stable and not as shaky as being insinuated in some quarters. "The state of Nigerian finances is okay; our finances are still okay, though we are still going through challenges of revenue stream to government and this you know obviously is from the oil shock as the price of oil has dropped. "It has significantly reduced the revenue stream to the government, but we are working in other ways to see how we can shore up the revenue so that we will be able to meet our expenditures," she stated. Asked on what was the reaction of the president on their briefing, the permanent secretary said: "Obviously when you brief the president, he will tell you what he expects in certain aspects of your operations and we gave our briefings in that regard." On the payment of fuel subsidy to marketers, she

said: "We did not say that we will not pay subsidy; like the former minister said, there is a liability on subsidy, which is being verified by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Budget Office of the Federation. "The issue had to do with the forex differentials which they were claiming and this committee is looking into it and as soon as it is resolved, we will be able to pay the verified amount also." Nwaobia, however, dismissed allegations of looting in some ministries as a result of absence of ministers. "If people have evidence that there is a large-scale looting going on, they are free to come with such and the Freedom of Information Act allows that you ask questions so if there are ministries they are suspecting of embarking on a large-scale looting, which I think is not true, everybody is free to ask," she added.

L-R: Divisional Head, IT Project Management, UBA Plc., Mr. Lanre Bamisebi, Group Managing Director, Mr. Phillips Oduoza and Director, Information Technology, Mr. Rasheed Adegoke, at a press briefing in Lagos...yesterday

Death toll rises to 44 in Jos bomb blasts Johnchuks Onuanyim and Musa Pam

ver 44 people have been confirmed dead while 47 others were injured following the twin bomb blasts that rocked Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Sunday night. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday put the figure of the dead at 44 while 47 sustained varying degrees of injuries. However, the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, Mr. Nasiru Oki, stated that 42 people lost their lives in the blasts.

Oki told journalists that two female suicide bombers carried out one of the bombings. The police boss stated that the female suicide bombers walked into a restaurant and detonated the bomb. New Telegraph gathered that the first explosion went off around 9:30pm at the restaurant located in a shopping complex on Bauchi Road. The second explosion occurred about 10 minutes later close to the popular Yan Taya Mosque where Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir was preaching during the Ramadan. A source said the imam

of the mosque was the target of the bombers. Two churches, First African Church Mission and Cherubim and Seraphim, located close to the Terminus Market were also burnt by irate youths immediately after the bomb blasts. The youths also attempted to burn a third church, ECWA Goodnews Church, on Ahmadu Bello Way. The North-Central Coordinator of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulsalami, stated that the victims had been buried while those injured were receiving treatment at various hospitals in the

state, including the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Our Lady of Apostle Hospital, Bingham University Teaching Hospital (Jankwano) and Sunnah Hospital, all in Jos. Abdulsalami said: “As at 3a.m., we had 44 people dead while 47 are injured and majority of them are in the ICU of the Plateau Hospital. This was the first hospital we brought them but because of the casualty figure, the hospital facility was overstretched, so we took some of them to Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jankwano and Our Lady of Apostle Hospital.” NEMA commended

the medical personnel for obeying the call by the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) for their members to come out and assist in attending to the injured. Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, described the bombings as unfortunate and condemnable. He called on the people to remain calm. “It is regrettable that at a time when Moslem faithful are fulfilling religious obligation, agents of death, chaos and anarchy have chosen to disrupt the peace of the state by orchestrating a spate of CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

Travel Advisory

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

Destination Abuja- Paris Paris-Lagos Paris-PHC PHC-Paris Paris –Abuja Lagos –Paris

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

Departure 23.55hrs 10.55hrs 11:00hrs 21:20hrs 11:00hrs 23:55hrs

Arrival 6:05hrs 17:15hrs 19:15hrs 6:05hrs 17:00hrs 6:20hrs

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

W3 101 W3 102 W3 107 (Mon, Wed , Fri) New York-Lagos W3 108 (Tues,Thurs, Fri) Lagos-Johannesburg W3 103 Johannesburg-Lagos W3 104 Lagos-Douala - (Tues, Wed ,Thur) Douala-Lagos - (Tues, Wed, Thur) Lagos-Accra Accra-Lagos

Abuja-Accra Accra-Abuja Lagos-Freetown Freetown-Lagos Lagos-Banjul Banjul-Lagos Lagos-Dakar Dakar-Lagos

-(Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun) -(Mon, Wed, Fri) -(Daily) - (Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri,Sat) -(Tue,Wed, Fri,Sat,Sun)

BRITISH AIRWAYS

London-Lagos Lagos-London Abuja-London Abuja-London

07:00hrs 20:05hrs 20:10hrs 11:45hrs

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

10:45hrs 09:35hrs 11:10hrs 13:25hrs 07:20hrs 17:00hrs 08:05hrs 13:35hrs 18:00hrs

hrs 14:44hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

AWB 201 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) AWB 202 (Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun)

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

17:00hrs 06:00hrs 08:00hrs 17:00hrs 08:00hrs 15:20hrs 21:00hrs

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

EK 7821 (Sun-Sat) EK 7822 EK 7831 EK 7811 EK 761

21:30hrs 14:40hrs 07:35hrs 14:20hrs 23:55hrs

07:40hrs 01:05hrs 12:50hrs 19:45hrs 10:30hrs

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

Lagos - Addis Ababa ET900 Addis Ababa - Lagos ET901 Abuja - Addis Ababa ET910 Addis Ababa - Abuja ET911 Enugu - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Enugu ET931 Kano - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Kano ET931

13:15hrs 09:00hrs 13:40hrs 09:40hrs 12:00hrs 09:20hrs 14:05hrs 09:20hrs

20:25hrs 12:15hr 20:10hrs 12:20hrs 20:50hrs 11:15hrs 20:50hrs 13:20hrs

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

20.45hrs 09:50hrs 09.20 hrs 06:30hrs

12:30hrs

Lagos-Dubai Lagos-Dubai Dubai-Lagos Dubai-Lagos Abuja-Dubai

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

EY 0672 (Sunday) (Monday) (Saturday) EY 955

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

11:55hrs 5:50hrs 14:35hrs 06:00hrs

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

17:55hrs 00:00hrs 09:00hrs 22:40hrs

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

18:30hrs 05:15hrs 05:30hrs

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

12:00hrs 21:30hrs 23:50hrs

Middle East Airlines (Two flights weekly (Tues & Friday)

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

HF 851 (Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun) HF 852 (Mon,Wed, Thurs, Sat)

ASKY AIRLINES

Destination Lome to Abuja Abuja-Lome- Kinshasa Kinshasa-Abuja Abuja-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Kinshasa Kinshasa-Libreville Libreville-Lagos Lagos-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Brazaville Brazaville-Libreville Brazzaville-Lagos Lagos-Lome

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

Flight No. KP 032 (Tue-Fri) KP 032 ( Tue-Fri)

Departure Arrival 14:00hrs 15:55hrs 16:30hrs 18:15hrs

KP 033 (Wed-Sat) KP O33 (Wed-Sat) KP O40 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP O44 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP O45 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat)

8:20hrs 10:35hrs 13:00hr 14:40hrs 17:00hrs 7:15hrs 9:35hrs 11:55hrs 13:10hrs 14:50hrs 17:10hrs 07:00hrs 09:20hrs 11:40hrs

10:00hrs 12:20hrs 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 18:45hrs 08:55hrs 11:25hrs 12:45hrs 14:10hrs 16:40hrs 18:50hrs 08:40hrs 11:10hrs 12:30hrs

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE ARIK AIR

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm

Lagos-Abuja/Kano 4:00pm Abuja-Kano 5:45pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kan 10:10am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 12:40pm Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Sunday Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 10:30am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 1:20pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45

(SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50

AEROCONTRACTORS

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30

MEDVIEW AIRLINES

LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30

OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

News

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

B'Haram: Buhari may probe $1bn arms purchase loan lSouth African mercenaries withdraw from frontline Our Correspondent

resident Muhammadu Buhari may soon order a comprehensive probe into how the $1 billion loan facility, which former President Goodluck Jonathan secured for the procurement of military equipment, arms and hardware to fight Boko Haram, was spent. New Telegraph gathered from highly placed sources that the investigation will seek to know if the loan was strictly applied to the procurement

of the military hardware it was meant for. The Seventh Senate in September last year had approved the former president's request to secure $1billion loan to enable the Federal Government to acquire the necessary weapons for counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in the NorthEast. One of the sources said considering the period of time between parliamentary approval and the last general elections, the new administration would want to know every bit of

what happened. He said: "There is no doubt that President Buhari, a man with an unblemished reputation, will soon order a thorough investigation into how the $1 billion loan, which the National Assembly approved last year for procurement of arms, ammunition and other hardware, was spent. "It is important to dig deep, considering the fact that it happened just a few months before the March 27 presidential election. "Nobody is saying the money was misapplied or diverted, but I think Mr. President would want

proper accountability of the huge loan, to be made. "When it was collected, was it retired with the Ministry of Defence? Did the ministry retire it with the armed forces? Who was directly responsible for the procurement resulting from the loan? I think these and many other questions, are what the probe may seek answers to. "I think it will be a patriotic probe, and not one borne out of malice, witchhunt, or with a premeditated outcome," he stated. New Telegraph also gathered that mercenaries from South Africa,

who were said to have been brought in by the past administration to help boost the war against Boko Haram, have since returned to their base, after withdrawing from the theatre of operation with their equipment. The source said: "I want to let you know that the South African mercenaries have withdrawn from the theater of operation, and they did so with equipment. "It is being suspected that their withdrawal may be one of the factors that could (allegedly) be responsible for the resurgence of

Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel (fifth left, second row) in a group photograph with newly-appointed commissioners and special advisers in Uyo...yesterday.

Zakari appoints self, retiring commissioners heads of c'ttees Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he newly-appointed acting chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs. Amina Zakari, is to head three of the 14 reconstituted standing committees of the commission. Also four of the National Commissioners whose tenure is expected to end this month and next, are heading some of these committees. Six INEC National Commissioners retired with Prof. Attahiru Jega last Tuesday while four, including Zakari who was appointed acting chairperson by President Muhammadu Buhari, are expected to retire between July 21 and August 11 this year. But the commission in a statement signed by its Secretary, Mrs Augusta C. Ogakwu, disclosed that Zakari, Chief Chris Iyimoga, Ambassador Mohammed Wali and Dr. Abdulkadir Oniyangi, whose tenure will soon expire, are heading some of these committees.

Surprisingly, Professor Akinola Salau who has about three years before his retirement, has not been appointed into any of these committees. According to the statement, Zakari will chair the information technology and voter registry, finance and general purpose as well as security committees while Iyimoga will head planning, monitoring and strategy, information and voter education/ outreach and partnership as well as operations and logistics committees. Wali on the other hand was appointed chairman of the estate, works and transport, tenders' board as well as election and party monitoring committees. Oniyangi, who is also expected to retire from the commission this month, is heading health and welfare as well as legal services clearance committees. Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku, who has about two years to stay, is heading appointment, promotion and disciplinary, board of survey and technical equipment acquisition as well as board of Electoral Institute committees.

Boko Haram attacks on some territories in the North East." Besides the withdrawal of the South African mercenaries, it was also learnt that the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in the North-East might have been due to the rejection of military posting to the North-East by some military personnel. "Some soldiers from some formations in the South-West, South-South and North-Central, who were posted to the NorthEast, rejected their deployments. "Though their action is against Service Rule and the Armed Forces Act, the soldiers' action is connected to the (perceived) relapse, as we can see in their renewed attacks on communities in the troubled area," the source added. Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, in a reply to a text message sent to him, said: ""I got your text, but I did not call you back, because those are very suggestive questions. They want to prompt one to say something. I don't have an answer to that." But the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Colonel Sani Usman, neither picked a call put to his phone line nor did he reply a text message.

Nnamani to APC leaders: You lack sense of history Onwuka Nzeshi and Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

ormer Senate President Ken Nnamani yesterday carpeted leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for what he described as failure to learn from history. Leaders of the ruling party, he said, generated unnecessary crisis in the National Assembly when they sought to handpick the principal officers of the 8th Senate and House of Representatives. Nnamani, who did not mince words to apportion blame to APC leaders, said that the ongoing leadership crisis at the National Assembly would have been avoided if they had taken into consideration political precedents of the parliament. Speaking at the public presentation of a book titled: "Nigeria Fourth Republic National Assembly” written by Austin Uganwa, the former Senate President faulted the meeting of APC lawmakers held at International Conference Centre on the

day the 8th National Assembly was inaugurated, noting that the lawmakers misplaced their priority. He argued that the supremacy of the party does not supersede the independence of the National Assembly, adding that the party is ephemeral and should not compete with an established arm of government. His words: "If we learn from history, we may avoid certain mistakes. What a book like this is trying to show us is that nobody is trying to invent the wheel. So many things happening in the National Assembly have been there long time ago. Doctrine of separation of powers, if strictly adhered to, certain mistakes especially on the 9th of June wouldn't have happened. “That day was a day in the National Assembly, a group of people decided to hold meeting when they were expected to be the one to take the floor of the both houses under the bicameral legislature but they did not. “They considered it proper to hold meeting

in no other place than the International Conference Centre so far away from the vicinity of the National Assembly. They were the ones that supposed to be there since they won election convincingly. I thought they should have taken the floor to make sure they take over properly. But they did not do that and they are paying the price for that. “That's why I'm saying if only these people have watched some of the events that took place on the floor, it is evident that we could have been doing better than we are doing now. If we had reflected on what transpired in some years before. Ghali Na'Abba went through the eye of the storm to try to establish the independence of legislature. “It requires political courage to do what he did at that time. In our own time, we put a stop to all those things and Senator David Mark who took over after me did not only continue with the structures that I put in place, he maintained almost all the personnel I hired

those time. I respect him for that. He maintained the same tempo as the Chairman of the National Assembly. “Now, we grappling today with the supremacy of a party and an established arm of government. Party is ephemeral, National Assembly is permanent if we are to practice the kind of democratic governance that is practiced in the world. “Yes, party presented us as candidates but once we have been elected into the National Assembly, the loyalty of such lawmakers is to the House. The National Assembly is not a party secretariat. If in a party caucus, you can agree on what to do when you get to the floor. You don't get to the floor and then practice party supremacy, it doesn't make sense because the Senate President is that of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not of APC or Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “So, the mistake being made now is because we refused to read that's why I congratulate the author of this book."

News

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Police quiz N'Assembly Clerk over ‘doctored’ Senate rules lNobody can force me to quit, says Ekweremadu Onwuka Nzeshi and Chukwu David

Abuja

he controversy trailing the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly and the election of its presiding officers assumed a new twist yesterday as police detectives interrogated the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, over the alleged forgery of the Senate Rules 2015. The detectives led by an Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police (AIG) arrived the National Assembly at about 10:45a.m. and headed straight to the office of the Clerk situated at the topmost floor of the White House. They met with the Clerk behind closed doors for about 25 minutes. New Telegraph gathered that the meeting was to enable the Police conduct a preliminary investigation

into allegations that the Senate Rules which was used in the conduct of the election of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, were forged. It was learnt that the detectives were quite civil in their approach as they wanted to know from Maikasuwa whether the proceedings of June 9 during which he presided followed the laid down rules and whether the Senate Rules book used on that day was the authentic version. A source told New Telegraph that the police had nothing against the Clerk of the National Assembly but were only reacting to a petition before them. "They went to see the CNA as part of their investigations. You know that they can't just go to the National Assembly on such a sensitive matter without hearing from the principal actors.

47 injured in Jos CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

sporadic bomb blasts to portray a state of dissatisfaction,” Lalong said.

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Meanwhile, the United States has vowed to support Nigeria in bringing to justice those responsible for the series of deadly terror attacks in the country. "The United States strongly condemns the recent attacks in northeastern Nigeria inflicted by Boko Haram," State Department spokesperson, John Kirby said in a statement. "We will continue to support Nigeria's efforts to bring those responsible for these attacks, as well as previous attacks, to justice," he added while offering condolences to the families of the victims. "As we have said before, the people of northern Nigeria deserve to live free from violence and from terror," Kirby said. According to him, Washington is providing counterterrorism aid to help Nigerian authorities fight the terror group. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the attacks in Jos, Maiduguri and Potiskum by those who he described as "blood sucking vermin." "I am gutted. I am saddened. I am heartbroken by the murder of scores of innocent souls in Jos late Sunday night," Atiku said in a statement by his media office. He expressed concern about the bestiality of the terrorists to lay siege on innocent worshippers who were undertaking a spiritual demand of the holy season of Ramadan.

“The CNA is the head of the bureaucracy in the National Assembly and has the constitutional mandate to inaugurate the presiding officers of the National Assembly at the beginning of a new session. If after presiding over an event, there are allegations of forgery or improper procedures, it is only right that the police hears his own side of the story. "The police are fully aware of the tussle between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the control of the National Assembly. This is all politics but while the police will not join the fray, it cannot stand aloof when there is a petition alleging that an act of criminality may have been committed," our source said. A faction of the APC at the Senate had alleged that the leadership of the 7th Senate, where Senator David Mark and Ekweremadu served as President and Deputy President of the Senate, illegally altered the Senate Rule to allow the PDP, which is now the minority party in the 8th Senate, occupy the Deputy

Senate position. A member of the Senate Unity Forum, the group of senators loyal to APC, was said to have petitioned the Police on the allegations, prompting the move by the security operatives to arrest Ekweremadu. However, the police have denied any plot to arrest the Deputy Senate President or any other official of the National Assembly. The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Abayomi Shogunle, confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the meeting took place in the office of the clerk on Monday. Shogunle said that a senator had petitioned that the Standing Rule was substituted without the authorisation of the Senate. He said that the meeting where some senators were questioned, followed a request by the police to the clerk to facilitate it. He also confirmed that the petitioner (senator) had made a statement to the police over the allegation. Asked whether the petition was specifically targeted at the Deputy

President of the Senate, Ekweremadu, the deputy force spokesman said it was not but “against procedure.” Shogunle said contrary to reports, the deputy senate president was not invited by the police and declined further comments, adding that the matter was under investigation. Meanwhile, the embattled Deputy President of the Senatehas said that no amount of intimidation from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would compel him to abdicate his constitutional responsibilities to Nigerians. Some senators had petitioned the police alleging that Ekweremadu masterminded the forging of Senate standing Rule 2015 Ekweremadu, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, also vowed that the 8th Senate would do everything within the ambit of the law to protect the independence of the legislature. "Let it be known that no amount of intimidation or harassment will deter Senator Ekweremadu from carrying out the con-

stitutionally prescribed duties, which on June 9, 2015, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) senators willingly elected him in the full glare of the world to perform,” he said. Ekweremadu was reacting to concerns raised by some eminent Nigerians across geo-ethnic divides, in respect of the current development, in which the PDP on Sunday raised the alarm that the Police were planning to arrest the Deputy President of the Senate and in the process perfect his ouster from office. Ekweremadu further assured Nigerians that necessary steps were being taken by the security agencies to fortify his safety. Also, PDP governors have condemned the police invitation to the Deputy President of the Senate. In a statement by its media officer, Patrick Okon, the governors frowned at what they described as the obvious prodding of the police by the Presidency and the APC as a result of their desperation to remove Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President.

A victim of the bomb blast that rocked the First African Church Mission International, on admission at the Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Jos…yesterday. PHOTO-NAN.

CBN restricts use of naira denominated cards CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

According to the circular, which was signed by the Director, Banking and Payment System Department, Mr. Dipo Fatokun, “The report must be sent electronically in CSV format, via a file upload portal as specified by the NIBSS, which would include the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and the account numbers of the cardholder for each transaction.” The CBN also directed banks to inform cardhold-

ers that the banking industry has instituted a tracking system on the use of naira denominated cards abroad, warning that violators of the fresh directive would be sanctioned. Last April, the banking watchdog had pegged the existing limit on the usage of naira denominated cards for transactions overseas at $50,000 per person per annum, representing 66.7 percent below $150,000 where it stood. It also directed authorised dealers to ensure that

the daily cash withdrawal limit embedded in the cards per person, per day is pegged at $300. Besides, the CBN last Wednesday stated that beyond the exclusion of funding for 41 items in the interbank forex market, the items cannot also be funded from proceeds of exports as well as the bureau de change (BDC) segment of the forex market. The latest directive by the CBN, which has shied away from devaluing the naira, was done to reduce

pressure on the informal or BDC segment of the forex market, where the local currency plunged yesterday as importers sought alternative sources for dollars after the central bank stopped foreign-currency funding for 41 items. In the BDC market, the naira declined to N230 to the dollar from N226 on Tuesday, the President of the Association of Bureaus de Change of Nigeria, Aminu Gwadabe, told Bloomberg in an interview.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JULY 7, 2015

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BBOG to engage Buhari tomorrow Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

L-R: Former Abia State Governor, Dr. Uzor Orji Kalu; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cadinal John Onaiyekan; former Minister of State FCT, Mr. J. C. Odom and the celebrant, Lady Adaku Odom, during a mass to mark the 50th birthday anniversary of Lady Adaku Odom in Abuja …at the weekend. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Corruption responsible for non-payment of workers’ salaries – Saraki Chukwu David Abuja

resident of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday in Abuja, said that the endemic corruption in the system was responsible for the non-payment of salaries in some states across the country. Saraki, who made this known while receiving a delegation from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC) led by the commission’s Chair-

man, Mr. Ekpo Nta, noted that the 8th Senate would have zero tolerance for corruption. While lamenting the financial crisis looming in Nigerian economy, he restated the commitment of the 8th senate in working with President Muhammadu Buhari and ICPC towards tackling the issue of corruption in the country. He added that the prevailing situation made it imperative for government to take drastic measures in the fight against corruption, saying that

Manufacturers lose N142bn to gas shortage Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

ighty - seven manufacturing firms yesterday said they had lost over N142 billion in the last couple of months due to power shortage occasioned by incessant cut in gas supply to their factories. The firms located in the Agbara and Lagos industrial belts, depend on Shell Gas Company ( SGC) to power their plants but have been forced to shut down when Shell declared a force majeure following the vandalization of its pipelines through which it transmits gas to these firms. In the first phase of the gas shortage which occurred last November, the firms lost an estimated N22 billion. New Telegraph learnt that the result of the current gas cut and shut down of the factories have become worse as one of the firms claimed to had incurred losses worth about N119.7 billion. The manufacturers, who

addressed the media on their plight, said the situation was becoming unbearable and urged Shell Gas Company to find a lasting solution to the energy crisis. According to them, Shell had early last month announced that there would be no gas supplies between June 11 and June 18 only for the it to announce an indefinite suspension of energy supply to the firms. A letter to the manufacturers at the outset read: “We refer to SNG’s notice of shutdown via our letter dated 09/06/2015. This is to inform you that mobilization to the site has been done, and shutdown is to commence from tomorrow 12/06/2015.” In another memorandum signed by its Commercial Manager, Bola George-Epebifie, Shell wrote rather regrettably that “ the repair works on the impacted pipeline have not been completed due to some challenges encountered. We are working assiduously to resolve the challenges.”

the legislature would work assiduously towards ensuring zero tolerance for corrupt practices in the system. Speaking earlier, Nta said that Nigeria had taken steps to address the issue of corruption holistically by following the guidelines of the international convention which focuses on the key areas of enforcement, prevention and mass mobilisation against corruption. Nta further noted that the fight against corruption was making progress in the country, stressing

the need for the government to tackle the root causes of corruption if the current crusade against the menace must yield fruitful results. According to him, corruption in the country was on the steady rise due to default on the part of government in the payment of wages and pensions, compelling public servants to resort to self help through the diversion of funds in the course of discharging their duties. “With the fight against corruption over the last years, Nigeria is on the

right track. The substructures that support corruption needs to be addressed first. Public officers have not been paid accumulated pensions in a long while, forcing civil servants in service to resort to corrupt means of seeking self help.” On the commission’s approach to curbing corruption, the chairman said, “the ICPC approach to enforcement is simple. If the commission is investigating any fraud, the primary intent is not to send the suspect to jail but to ensure recovery of looted funds.”

head of its planned march to the Presidency on Wednesday to engage President Muhammadu Buhari on his plan to rescue the missing 219 Chibok secondary school girls, the BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group has revealed that it has mobilized its members in the United kingdom and, Lagos to join the march. Speaking at the group’s sit-out yesterday, one of the leaders of the group, Hadiza Bala Usman, disclosed that after receiving the date for the engagement with the President, the group mobilised its members across the globe to participate in the meeting. She further explained that in case the group is blocked from entering the villa or making its point tomorrow, it would resort to its normal protest as it has given the newly formed government opportunity to settle down. “Our match is not about the incoming or outgoing government. It is about accountability. It is not about us, it is about the Chibok girls. We want to demand for the right of citizens. We have noted the increased rate of violence in recent times and these are issues we have been talking about and we keep talking.

UBA introduces simplified BVN registration U

nited Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has introduced a simple, convenient and hassle free process for customers of the bank to submit their Biometric Verification Numbers (BVN). Leveraging on its robust information technology infrastructure, yesterday, the bank launched a short code number *919*6# through which customers can send their BVN. “The

process is very simple. All a customer has to do is to send his or her valid BVN from the telephone number that was used to open their account to the short code number and it will become automatically linked,” said Mr. Rasheed Adegoke, Director, Group Information Technology, UBA Plc The introduction of this simplified process was in response to some

of the challenges associated with the ongoing BVN exercise. “UBA has come up with this novel process to ensure that customers who already have their BVN do not have any issues submitting it to their alternate banks” explained Adegoke. Once customers submit their BVN through the code, they will get an immediate response letting them know whether

their BVN is valid or incorrect. The responses will be accompanied by a phone number through which further enquiries can be made by the customers if required. In addition to this phone number, customers can also reach UBA on social media though Facebook and twitter or by calling UBA’s Customer Fulfillment Centre for further clarifications.

APC accuses INEC of disobeying court order

UPP congratulates Egbemode

Tunde Oyesina

ABUJA

he All Progressives Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate in the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state, Dakuku Peterside, yesterday, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of disobeying an order by the Tribunal requesting the electoral

body to allow them inspect election materials used for the election. The three-member panel of the Tribunal, sitting in Abuja had, at the last hearing of the petition, granted a motion exparte filed on June 8 by the petitioners, allowing the inspection of Card Readers and records of electoral materials used in all the polling units in the state.

Camillus Nnaji he Leadership of United Progressive Party (UPP) has sent a congratulatory message to Mrs. Funke Egbemode on her recent appointment as the Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph Newspapers. In a letter, dated June 3, 2015 and signed by its Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, the party said that Egbemode’s deserved appointment was a testimony to her track record of dedi-

cation to duty, integrity, loyalty and professionalism. The letter reads in part: “United Progressive Party(UPP) congratulates you on your well-deserved appointment as the new Managing Director/Editorin-Chief of the foremost New Telegraph Newspapers. Your promotion is an eloquent testimony to your dedication to duty, integrity, loyalty and professionalism. Your views and indepth analysis of national issues are incisive and have contributed to enrich our emerging democracy”.

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tuesday, july 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Edo psychiatric hospital staff petition Buhari Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

ngry junior and senior staff of the Federal Psychiatric Hospital, Uselu, Benin, Edo state, have called President Muhammadu Buhari to come to their urgent rescue following alleged high handedness by management of the hospital. They accused hospital authority of alleged

harassment, intimidation, illegal suspensions, termination of appointment, witch-hunt and sundry acts against them by the Dr Sunny Olotu management. It was learnt that the managing director Dr. Olotu was recently invited by the police to respond to questions on issues over a petitions written by some aggrieved members of staff. The Public Relations Officer of the hospital,

Efe Stewart yesterday denied the allegations. Efe stated that some workers of the health institution have had different cases against them since 2004 and 2014, pointing out that those affected were brought before a panel constituted by the hospital board and appropriate sanctions were meted to them. He explained that the managing director has no hands in the alleged witch-hunt and that peace has continued to prevail

within the hospital. On the invitation sent to his boss by the police, he said nobody is above the law and that “petitions were written and we have responded accordingly”. Among the affected staff included Dr Charles Ikeji, a Consultant Special Grade 1-GL 17, Pharm (Barr) P. O. Esan, Diretor of Pharmaceutical Services GL 17 said to have died within the period of the alleged harassment, Dr Ambrose

Lawani, Consultant Special Grade II-GL 16, Ms O. U. Morgan, Assistant Director GL 15, Pharm K. O. Oriakhi, Principal Pharmacist GL 13, Mrs Oluwatoyin Olatoye seun, Occupational Therapist GL 10, Mr T. O. Osifo, Senior Executive Officer, Accounts GL 9, Mr O. J. Ugiagbe-Ogbeide , Admin Officer GDi GL 9, Mr E. O. Ohenhen, Chief Data Processing Officer GL 8, Mr Osatohnamwen Nosa Chief Clerical Officer, GL 7

L-R: Group Executive, Commercial Banking, FirstBank, Mrs. Cecilia Majekodunmi; Chief Strategy Officer, Mr. Francis Ikenga; Chairperson, Women Group, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mrs. Agnes Shobajo; Group Executive, Institutional Banking Group, FirstBank, Mrs. Bashirat Odunewu and Secretary, Women Group of LCCI. Mrs. Dele Ogunjobi, during the group’s Business visit to the bank in Lagos

IPMAN crisis: Obasi arraigned for robbery Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

actional president of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chief Lawson Obasi and three others were yesterday arraigned over alleged breaking and robbery of office. The arraignment was stalled due to the absence of the judge. The IPMAN factional president, who is accused alongside Ukadike Chinedu, Augustine Erhabor and Andrew Ashiga, who is said to be at large, could not take their plea yesterday as the judge Abba Bello Mohammed was said to be indisposed. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mohammed Diri had in March filed the six-counts charge before the FCT High Court. The accused IPMAN members were alleged to have entered the premises of IPMAN located at No 41 Gnassigbe Eyadema Street, Asokoro Abuja.

Court affirms Emmanuel as governor, dismisses G22 case

Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting In Jabi, Abuja, yesterday dismissed another suit which had sought to nullify the election of Mr Udom Emmanuel as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State. The FCT High Court presided over by Justice Halilu held that the FCT High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain a preelection matter which had taken place in Akwa Ibom State and consequently dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction. A gubernatorial aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Ime Effiong Ekanem acting for himself and other aspirants under the aegis of G22, had gone to court after the Akwa Ibom State gubernatorial primaries and obtained an injunction that Mr Emmanuel's name should not be forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Akwa Ibom State. Even though the injunction was later vacated by the Court to offer a temporary

reprieve for Emmanuel, the plaintiff had insisted that the Court should disqualify Emmanuel. Ruling on the substantive suit, Justice Halilu, adopted a sole issue for determination to wit: “Whether the Honourable Court had the requisite jurisdiction to entertain the suit, same having emanated from the conduct of a Primary election conducted in Akwa Ibom State” In resolving issue, the Judge held that it was the statutes that conferred jurisdiction on a Court and not the Rules of Court as erroneously argued by the Plaintiff in his written address. According to the court, since it was the Plaintiff ’s claims before the court that was to be examined in assuming jurisdiction, upon an examination of the Plaintiff ’s claims, it was not in doubt that the subject matter of the suit was the propriety or otherwise of the conduct of a primary election which took place in Akwa Ibom State and same did not fall within the territorial jurisdiction of the Court.

and Mrs B. E. Aikhorin, Clerical officer GL 7. The workers in their protest letter, which copies were made available to newsmen in Benin yesterday, demand that the president should prevail on the management to withdraw “phantom cases instituted in magistrate courts against members of staff by the police from Okhoro Division and AIG Zone 5”, they believed the police was compromised to institute the cases. They also want the policemen involved in the “phantom cases” probed, just as they demand the president to “revisit, exhume and implement the panel report of Rabi Adamu and the numerous petitions of fraudulent acts by Dr S. O. Olotu which have been covered up” and the reinstatement of the victims of “Dr S. O. Olotu’s witch-hunt”. The staff said their ordeal started when the Adamu report submitted that Olotu’s emergence as the Medical Director of the school was fraught with irregularities and he began alleged witchhunt of staff he perceived as “enemies”.

We're not indebted to workers in Bayelsa — Dickson Chris Ejim

NERC issues consultation guidelines for DISCOs B

YENAGOA

Segun Edwards

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday issued guidelines for consultation by operators that want to review the cost of generation, transmission and supply of electricity, prices of electricity services and classification of customers. The guidelines according to the commission are designed to ensure that such consultations are comprehensive, rigorous, open to all relevant stakeholders, meaningful and effective. “NERC will not accept and consider the application of any distribution company for Revenue Requirement (RA), Rate Design (RD) and Customer Classification (CR) if it has not completed customer consultation in line with these guidelines. “These guidelines set out the principles and steps the Distribution Companies should adopt for engaging stakeholders before submitting tariff review applications to the Commission. It aims to as-

sist Discos make the right decisions about when, with whom and how to consult. The Consultation process is expected to achieve real engagement rather than merely following a routine or bureaucratic process,” NERC maintained. It indicated that the consultation will create accountability in the electricity market as customers will know how the operators are serving them and the various costs of service that justify the rates they are paying. It would be recalled that Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos, recently barred the NERC from implementing the new electricity tariff scheduled to come into force on June 1, 2015. This order was sequel to the hearing of an ex-parte application brought before him by a Lagos lawyer, Toluwani Adebiyi, seeking to restrain the NERC, and all the electricity distribution companies in Nigeria, from enforcing any increment in electricity tariff pending the hearing and determination of his suit.

ayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson yesterday reassured workers of the state that payment of salaries for the month of June 2015 will commence this week. Speaking in a live interview on "Focus Nigeria" aired on the Africa Independent Television (AIT) and monitored in Yenagoa, the governor said he had already authorised the payment of the salaries to commence from today (Tuesday July 7). Dickson, who lamented the current economic downturn in the country, however maintained that Bayelsa State was not owing its workers, as is the case with most states in the federation due to the sharp drop in oil revenue. As part of efforts to meet salary obligations to workers, the Governor said there has been a drastic reduction in government’s expenditure, adding that his office has not received security votes and some other statutory allowances for the past three months.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, july 7, 2015

Foreign vessels earn N230bn on Nigerian term of trade Bayo Akomolafe

he Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), has said that foreign vessels were earning over $10 billion yearly from the nation’s oil and gas sector as a result of the Nigeria maritime trade policy. Its Secretary General, Mr.Tunji Brown, disclosed this yesterday at the Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) 2015, held in Lagos. The event which was slated for 8.30 am, was however delayed for over four hours as the Chairman of the event, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) and Host/Special Guest, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode were absent from the event. Also, the Chief Host, Mallam Mohammed Bashir, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transport failed to show his face at the forum. He noted that one of the major short falls of the national trade policy as it relates to the oil and gas sector was the term of trade, which allows crude exports and products import to be sold on Freight on Board (FoB) terms.

orried by the subtle campaigns to transfer the 104 Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) to the state governments, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to reject such a policy. ASCSN, in a statement signed by the National President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and the Secretary-General, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, emphasized that those pushing the President to embark on such negative action were preparing him for a possible collision with

Ahmed Miringa Maiduguri

he chief of Army Staff, LT General Kenneth Minimah and other senior army hierarchy were in Maiduguri yesterday to celebrate the Army Day celebrations. Maiduguri is the most hit by the insurgency in the North-east. The Army boss, who paid a courtesy call on

l Releases 182 cleared Boko detainees Governor Kashim Shettima at the Government House, Maiduguri, said they were in the state to celebrate the 2015 Army Day in Maiduguri to send a strong message to the world that Maiduguri is safe. He said: “Our presence in Maiduguri to celebrate this year’s Army Day is to send a strong message to the world that Maiduguri is safe. Our

welve people died instantly in a ghastly accident which occurred on Okene-Lokoja road in the early hours of yesterday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the accident, which involved a luxury bus with registration number Lagos KRD 799 LC and a truck loaded with cattle with registration number Katsina 711 KTN occurred

presence in Maiduguri will also serve as moral booster to our officers and men who were on the field of war”. Minimah also commended the government of Borno State for supporting the military and the internally displaced persons (IDPs). He assured the state that very soon, the issue of insurgency will be thing of the past.

Responding, Shettima said: “the Nigerian military has performed creditably, as most captured areas have been liberated by the gallant Nigerian soldiers. I particularly commend the Chief of Army Staff and the commander 7th division for their efforts in liberating the state.” He commended the soldiers for laying their lives for peace to reign in

L-R: Executive Director, Access Bank Plc, Victor Etuokwu; Executive Vice President, Business Development and Global Product, Moneygram, Alexander Hoffmann; Regional Manager, Anglophone West Africa, Moneygram, Kemi Okusanya and Vice President, Africa, Moneygram, Herve Chomel, during the inauguration of ‘MoneyGram Send’ services at Access Bank in Lagos.

millions of Nigerians who voted him into office. The union leaders observed that such campaigners would come in different guise, stressing that Mr. President should watch out for them. “The Union is worried that now that we have a new government in place, some Nigerians, under the guise of discussing the issue of devolution of power in the country, are clamouring for the transfer of Unity Colleges to state governments. The question to ask is what devolution of power has got to do with ownership of Unity Colleges when education is in the

Concurrent list of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “What manner of a country do we want to run when we engage in the habit of approbating and reprobating on sensitive national issues? Moving forward and backward will not help anybody. Let us take all our institutions as given and service them on a regular basis for the benefit of mankind. You build toll gate today, demolish them tomorrow only for you to come back later and start toying with the idea of rebuilding them. We need to get serious for once and move the country forward.

12 killed in Okene-Lokoja road auto crash

COAS celebrates Army Day in Maiduguri

Labour warns against ceding unity schools to states Sunday Ojeme

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at a spot at Irepeni Village at about 5a.m. An eyewitness told NAN that the accident occurred when the luxury bus collided with the truck. The eyewitness said that the bus was trying to avoid a barricade erected on the road by armed robbers and in the process collided with the truck coming from the opposite direction. According to the eyewit-

ness, more than 30 cows were also killed in the accident. Confirming the accident, the Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Charles Abochi said that 73 persons were involved in the accident out of which 12, comprising eight men and four women died on the spot.

Emmanuel renews commitment to industrialisation Tony Anichebe Uyo

he Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has said that his administration’s commitment to industrialising the state was irrevocable. He stated that through industrialization, the government shall rewrite the history of the state by creating employment and wealth. The governor stated this in Uyo yesterday, during the swearing-in of commissioners and special advisers. Those sworn-in as commissioners are, Godwin Ntukudeh, Akan Okon, Aniekan Akpan, Monday Uko, Emmanuel Ibiok, Emmanuel Enoidem, Enobong Uwah, Ekong Sampson, Uwem Etuk, Ephraim Inyang, Etido Inyang and Aniekan Umana. Others are Dr. Mathew Nathaniel; Dr. Dominic Ukpong; Dr Iniobong Es-

sien; Dr. Emmanuel Ating and Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko; Dr. Glory Edet; Mrs. Elizabeth Obot, and Mr. Victor Antai. Those that were swornin as special advisers include Mr. Anietie Etuk and Enyinnaya Ekpenyong. Emmanuel urged the commissioners and special advisers to demonstrate a high degree of competence, saying that his administration will not sacrifice skill on the altar of mediocrity or the narrow impulse of parochialism. He said that the administration has vowed to surround itself with the best people wherever they may come from. He asked them to see themselves as the apostles of the state’s sustainable development drive. The governor, who said that the selection was purely based on merit, maintained that the records of the returnee commissioners spoke for them, adding that they must keep the dreams alive.

Nigeria and Borno State in particular and assured the army of his continued support to the army and other security operatives in the state for the war against insurgency. At the Shehu of Borno’s Palace, the COAS said they were at the palace to seek for royal blessing from the monarch and also to commend the government and people of Borno, especially the civilian JTF for assisting the army on the war against insurgency. The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai El-Kanemi, commended the army for their gallantry and the recovery of conquered communities and appealed to the military to consider the recruitment of the Civilian JTF into the Nigerian Army. While at the Maimalari cantonment, Governor Kashim Shettima, the Shehu of Borno, the COAS among others laid wreath in honour of gallant officers and men lost their lives fighting the insurgents in (Operation Zamman Lafiya). He said the strength of any nation is measured by the strength of its Army and Nigerian was not an exception, adding that the war on insurgency must be won and very soon, Borno will be a peaceful state.

Medview resumes flights to Maiduguri Wole Shadare

n response to the assurance by aviation authorities that Maiduguri Airport is safe, Medview Airline has concluded arrangements to commence four flights weekly to once again reconnect the region to other parts of the country beginning on Friday. Managing Director, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, in a statement, said the four flights are on Friday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, saying it will reduce the long hours of stress on the road which the people of that region go through to get in and out of Maiduguri. Already, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have given a nod to Medview airline to operate into Maiduguri airport, which has been closed to commercial flights due to activities of insurgents.

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

How we planned Ikorodu robberies –Suspects Suspects who raided banks in Ikorodu area of Lagos reveal how they lavishly spent millions of naira shared from the booty

Taiwo Jimoh and John Edu

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

HEIST

our members of an 18-man gang which attacked different banks at Ijede and Ogolonto areas of Ikorodu as well as Lekki-Ajah, Lagos State yesterday disclosed how they planned the robberies that left the residents in shock. The suspects said that to plan the robberie, they met at a creek at Ajegunle area of Ikorodu after receiving phone calls from members. The robbery attack was led by a man identified as ‘Million,’ who used to braid his hair and looked like a woman. The police, however, said they were already on the trail of ‘Million’. In their confessions, the suspects said they were part of those who raided First City Monument Bank (FCMB) at Lekki, where they killed three policemen and a girl hawking fish. They later attacked other banks at Ijede and Ogolonto areas of Ikorodu. They attacked the banks at Ogolonto on June 24. According to them, they stole N15 million at FCMB and N25 million from First Bank at Ogolonto. They, however, said they weren’t sure about the amount looted from other three banks in Ogolonto. The four suspects are Monday Omoboye (39) aka Alam Blow, Agbojule Bright (25), Monday Ikuesan (37) and Promise Abiwa (20). Bright, who claimed he attended College of Education,

Gunmen kill Agip manager

L-R: The suspects, Abiwa, Bright, Omoboye and Ikuesan, during the parade, yesterday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Ekiedolor, Edo State and read English and Christian Religious Knowledge, said he was given N3 million as his share of the loot from the Ogolonto operation. Like it is common among most arrested robbery suspects, Bright said that a friend introduced him to the crime, adding that the friend never told him that the job he was getting for him was robbery. He said: “I went into robbery because of hardship. We were 18 members that went for the robbery. We held our meeting at a creek at Ajegunle area of Ikorodu. It was after the meeting that we moved for the operation. We went in a boat. We went with eight rifles and two pump action guns. “I don’t know how much we made in the operation, but I was given N3 million. I used part of my money to buy a Lexus ‘Jeep’. I gave my wife N30,000 to sit for the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC)-conducted examinations. I also gave part of the money to a friend for safekeeping.” Bright said that his wife did not know that he was an armed robber because he had a spare part business he was doing on the side. The suspect said that he was arrested after one Akpan, a car dealer he bought his Lexus Jeep from, called him to come and collect his receipt. When he got to Isawo, Ikorodu, plainclothes policemen swooped on him. Another suspect, Ikuesan,

a fisherman from Ondo State, revealed how they planned and carried out the FCMB robbery at Lekki, Ajah. Ikuesan said that he had gone to borrow a boat for fishing, when the owner convinced him to job in the robbery. He said: “He told me that they wanted me to assist them ride their boat that they were going for a bank robbery operation. I joined because money I make from fishing is not enough. The leader of our gang, ‘Million,’ gave me N400,000 for the Ogolonto robbery. I was also given N180,000 for the Ijede robbery. Money shared often depends on what we make from operations.” Omoboye, another boat driver, said: “I was the person who manned the boat on the day we went for the FCMB operation. When they called me, they never told me they were going for robbery. I was the one who handled the speedboat to Epe. We lodged at a hotel at Epe and around 2pm, we left for Lekki. We got to Lekki around 3:30pm. “Fifteen members alighted from the boat at Lekki, while I and three others were left in the boat on standby. We escaped through the waterway after the operation.” Omoboye added that after the robbery, they returned to the creek at Ikorodu, which happened to be the place where they used to meet to plan operations and where they gather after operations. He said: “After the opera-

tion at FCMB, we moved to the creeks in Ikorodu. I was given N400,000 for the FCMB operation and N400,000 for the Ijede operation. I collected N2 million for the Ogolonto bank robberies. “I participated in the three bank robbery operations. I have two wives and five children but my wives don’t know I’m into armed robbery. I bought a Lexus ‘Jeep’ from the proceeds of the operation four days after the robbery. I bought it for N1.5 million.” According to Omoboye, he was later arrested at Igbogbo junction. He said that the guns used in the operations were provided by ‘Million’ and Kakado. “Million and Kakado are our bosses. We do whatever they asked us. Police are yet to arrest them,” he added. Speaking at the Police Headquarters, Ikeja, the former Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Adarenti, who said the parade was his last official duty in Lagos State before he handed over to his successor, Mr Fatai Owoseni, explained that when the robbers attacked four banks at Ogolonto, he had vowed that he would not rest until they were arrested. “I promised we would get them and we got them,” he said. Items recovered from the suspects include two Lexus ‘Jeeps’ RX 300, marked KRD 29 DA, and Eky 641 DB and Infinity ‘Jeep.’

unmen yesterday shot dead a deputy manager with Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Mr Zubairu Olalekan, at Mgbuoshimiri, Port Harcourt in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The late 42-year-old Olalekan, who was the acting deputy manager in-charge of Information and Communications (ICT) of the Italian oil company, was shot dead around 7am while leaving his house for work. Witnesses said the assassins had laid an ambush outside the victim’s house and shot him dead immediately he was about driving out, after which they drove out of the area in their tinted KIA car. The sources noted that the killers did not pick any item from Olalekan, whose wife is pregnant. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who confirmed the incident, noted that the command had intensified efforts to arrest the fleeing killers.

NAFDAC closes Lagos Mall

he National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it had sealed a popular Lagos Mall for stocking, selling and distributing counterfeit wines and spirits. This is contained in a statement issued by NAFDAC Public Relations Officer (Enforcement Operations), Mr Anslem Okonkwor. According to him, the regulatory officers of the agency from its Investigation and Enforcement Directorate stormed the three branches of the mall in Ajah, Gbagada and Magodo-Isheri areas of the state simultaneously with security men and journalists. The team leader of the Magodo-Isheri operations, Mr Andy Tamanuwa, a Chief Regulatory Officer, confirmed the sealing of the outfit, maintaining that the exercise was a routine one aimed at ensuring that products sold to consumers conform to the approved regulatory standards. Tamanuwa said the seized items were mainly popular brands and expensive imported alcoholic beverages.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JULY 7, 2015

Return home, Adebule tells father of twins

L-R: Permanent Secretary (PS), Office of Deputy Governor, Mr Michael Dawodu, Mrs Adebule, Mrs Uche, PS, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs Omobolanle Ogunmola, at the presentation of welfare support gifts to the mother of twins

Muritala Ayinla

(with Agency report)

agos State Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, yesterday called on Mr Citizen Uche to come out of hiding and take up his fatherly responsibilities. Uche had allegedly abandoned his family after discovering that his wife, Mrs Ruth Uche, was the pregnancy of the third consecutive set of twins. But Adebule, according to

the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), appealed to the man in Ikeja while presenting an undisclosed amount to Ruth on behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to support her and her children. Ambode had on Friday directed that the woman be assisted in raising the children following newspaper publications on her ordeal after her distress visit to the Government Secretariat, Alausa, on Thursday. Adebule said: “On behalf of the Lagos State Govern-

ment, we present this token to you to rehabilitate and assist you in raising your children. You will be getting a monthly allowance too. “We also appreciate your coming to ask the state government for assistance. Some other mothers would have abandoned these babies on the roadside. “An officer has been assigned to pay in the token into an account and all your daily needs would be assessed to alleviate your suffering.

“As a woman and a mother, I can only imagine what you have gone through managing six children. It must have been energy-sapping and depressing. But, I salute your courage and I want to assure you that this government will not abandon you; we will stand by you and ensure that you are assisted to get back to a normal life. “We are calling on Mr Uche to come home to meet his family and take up his responsibility and to also relieve this woman of psychological trauma.” The deputy-governor promised that the husband would not be prosecuted if he appeared early. Ruth thanked the Lagos State Government for the assistance and also begged her husband to return home in peace. She said: “The other children have been asking after their father. I beg him to come home so we can take care of these children together as parents. “When we came back from the Governor’s Office, he called me and said he saw us in the news and asked why I went to that length. He then promised that he would soon come back home. “I told him that the government was about to claim his children. I tried to instill fear into him to make him have a change of heart to return home. But, since the day he called, I have not heard from him again. If he is ready to come back, I will take him back.” Mrs Uche is a Grade 2 teacher at a private school with N10,000 salary.

Court remands Akungba regent’s kidnappers Babatope Okeowo Akure

n Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded two school dropouts, David Ikpen and Lucky Smart, in Olokuta Prison for allegedly abducting the Regent of Akugb-Akoko in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo

Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

overnor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State yesterday presented the staff of office to the new Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Samuel Adu. The governor also urged the people of Ikere-Ekiti to allow peace to reign. The event effectively put an end to the jostling for the traditional stool of the second largest town in the state. Adu, who hails from the Ogbenuote Ruling House, contested the stool with princes from other ruling houses including a journalist with the Africa Inde-

State, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon, and three other persons. The Chief Magistrate, Victoria Bob-Manuel, gave the order after the accused were arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a two-count charge of aiding and abetting the abduction of the regent and others. Omosowon was rescued

by officials of DSS after spending two weeks in the kidnappers’ den. The regent, who had returned to the palace, said she was beaten and kept in a filthy environment. Ikpen, one of the accused who was arrested in the course of rescuing the regent, denied the allegation. He said he was only the

driver of the head of the gang identified as ‘Federal’. Federal was killed during a shootout with the security agents. Counsel to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) at the State Ministry of Justice, John Olowokeere, said the accused conspired with others and kept the regent and other victims in captivity for 14 days.

Ikere monarch gets staff of office pendent Television (AIT), Gbenga Aruleba. Adu scored 10 votes out of 14 cast by the kingmakers to emerge the new Ogoga. Presenting the instrument of office to the monarch, Fayose said the government strictly followed due process in arriving at Adu’s choice. He said: “This presentation comes up today after we painstakingly considered all that were necessary to be done. I have ‘severally’ called the stakeholders together to discuss the issue, particularly the crisis the selection of

Prince Adu had generated. “I will rather prefer to do those things that would add value to Ikere-Ekiti, the second largest town in the state, to doing those things that would promote crisis or add to the people’s burden. “I want to state here that I have no candidate in the selection. The moment there is election, one person must surely win. But this is not the end of the whole journey, whoever feels aggrieved can go to court to seek redress. It was just like my case in the governorship election.” In his acceptance speech,

Adu decried the fierce battle that had always accompanied ascendancy to traditional thrones in Yoruba land in recent times. He said: “Let me commend the kingmakers for their thoroughness and transparency in the selection process. This will make the process of reconciliation very easy. “I want to say sincerely that I am committed to the service of Ikere community. I will pursue the unity of the town with sincere heart because I know that there can’t be progress where there is no unity.”

City Briefs Nigerian seeks asylum in France over threat to life

40-year-old man, Abayomi Adenuga, is presently seeking asylum in France over alleged threat to his life by political opponents in Nigeria. Abayomi, according to his wife, Olubisi Adenuga, fled to France in September 2013, after escaping two assassination attempts on his life by some suspected political thugs, following allegation that he was responsible for the death of an opposition member in the period running to the 2011 general election. Mrs Abayomi said her husband, who got a momentary reprieve with a short asylum in France, was facing the risk of being deported to Nigeria as the asylum had expired. She said if he was deported assassins might kill him. The woman said she had been inundated with reports that her husband was being desperately sought after by suspected assassins. She said: “My husband is presently seeking a permanent asylum from the French immigration authority because if he returns to Nigeria, he faces the risk of being killed by assassins trailing him.” Mrs Adenuga claimed she was also threatened by some people, who said they were going to kill her.

Family holds memorial service for Madam Clara Philips Pamela Eboh Awka

A special memorial service in honour of Mrs Clara Olasunmbo Philips will hold simultaneously tomorrow in Lagos, London and the United States where her children reside. The service, according to a statement by the family, is meant to honour and celebrate Philips’ memory and the worthy life she lived. The programme will include rendition of songs and prayers for the continued repose of the soul of the deceased and blessings for the children left behind. A retired banker with over 30 years of service in the financial sector, Phillips died on July 8, 2013, while holidaying in London. She was buried at West Thurrock Cemetery Chapel, in London. She is survived by six children.

Group donates relief materials to Borno IDPs Temitope Ogunbanke A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Oasis Association, in partnership with Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, has donated relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno State. Speaking during the presentation of the relief materials at the Borno State Liaison Office in Lagos, the President of Oasis Association, Air Vice Marshall Olufemi Soewu (rtd), said the aim was to bring help to the people in need. The items donated included 100 Vitafoam mattresses, 100 Vitafoam pillows, 10 bags of rice, 10 bags of beans and 10 bags of clothes. Soewu said the organisation decided to give out the relief materials because it believed that state government should not bear the burden of the IDPs in Borno State alone.

12 News Tribunal chairman retirement stalls Ladoja's petition Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he election petition filed by the former governorship candidate of the Accord Party in Oyo state, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, against the victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the last April election, suffered yet another setback yesterday in Ibadan due to absence of the chairman of the tribunal. The former chairman of the tribunal, Justice F.C Obieze, had retired last month, having put in the maximum statutory years on the Bench. Justice Mahmud Karaye, a senior member of the three-man panel therefore adjourned further hearing in the matter till June 29, in the expectation that a new chairman would be appointed and detailed to continue with the petitions. At the pre-hearing of the petition tribunal sitting held at the Iyaganku High Court premises yesterday, counsels and party supporters who had besieged the venue, were disappointed as a new chairman had not been appointed to resume the hearings.

70% beneficiaries of health care services are non-Ondo-Govt Babatope Okeowo Akure

ndo State Government yesterday said that its insistence of the use of Residency Card known as Smart Card has exposed over 70 percent of non- resident who have been benefitting from free health programme of the state government. The Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, who revealed this in a statement made available to journalists said the enforcement of the card usage has commenced in the health sector. This development came as the pioneer coordinator of the Ondo State Information Technology Development Centre (SITDEC), Tunji Ariyomo, yesterday bemoaned government’s introduction of the N2,000 levy for the collection of the card by the people living in the state.

south-west

tuesday, july 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

UI ranks Nigeria’s best, 8th in Africa Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he 2015 ranking of African Universities and Higher Institutions has reported the Nigeria’s Premier University, The University of Ibadan, as the best in Nigeria and 8th in Africa. The latest ranking which was conducted by Journals Consortium on

1,447 African Universities and Higher Institutions, made use of research publications and citations from the last five years (2010 to 2014), as well as visibility on the internet. The results of the ranking which is available on the web:(http:// ranking.jour nalsconsortium.org/), indicated that South African institutions dominate the top ten with University of Cape Town topping

the rank with Total Influence Factor (TIF) of 45.02, followed by Cairo University (43.43) and the University of Pretoria (43.35). The top ten include six institutions from South Africa, two from Egypt and one each from Kenya and Nigeria (University of Ibadan). First generation universities were in top positions in the latest ranking with University of Ibadan coming 8th

and first in Nigeria followed by University of Nigeria (13th), Ahmadu Bello University (18th), University of Lagos (UNILAG-20th), Obafemi Awolowo University (24th), University of Ilorin (31st), University of Portharcourt (36th), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (42nd), University of Calabar (43rd), Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA-49) while the only private university in the top list

is Covenant University which is placed 53rd in the ranking. Reacting to the ranking, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Folorunsho Adewole, stated that the vision of the university was to be a world-class institution for academic excellence geared towards meeting societal needs.

OAU workers protest against non-payment of N2.8bn allowances Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose (right), presenting the Certificate and Staff of Office to HRM Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado, Agirilala Ogbenuotesoro 11, Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti and his wife during the presentation of Staff of Office to Ogoga at Ikere Ekiti …yesterday

Adeolu Adeyemo and Temitope Ogunbanke

n Osun State based human rights group, Civil Societies’ Coalition for Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEO) yesterday said that it would lead a 500,000 man march in the state today in support of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s impeachment. The group in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo by its Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Sulaiman Alimi, maintained that the rally would be a huge rally as Aregbesola and his deputy, Laoye Tomori must be impeached if the allegation of mismanagement

Group leads 500,000 march for Aregbesola’s impeachment l Hold Omisore, PDP responsible for breach of peace -APC of the state treasury against them is found to be true. Alimi insisted that the allegations raised in the petition of Justice Folahanmi Oloyede, of the state High Court, that the governor should be investigated for financial recklessness should not be swept under the carpet. In its reaction in a separate statement, the Osun State chapter of

the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on security agencies to hold the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyiola Omisore and his party responsible for any breach of the peace in the state. The party, in a statement by the Director of Media and Strategy, Barrister kunle Oyatomi, yesterday, said it was aware of plans by a

group of profiteers being sponsored by Omisore and his party to unleash violence on the state using the issue of workers’ salaries as camouflage. "The APC government under Aregbesola in Osun has been having very fruitful negotiations with the labour and we can therefore say without any contradiction that the labour has no hand in this proposed protest".

APC accuses Ekiti of hypocrisy over Awe murder charge Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has decried the reservation expressed by the r the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the presence of APC State Chairman, Chief Jide Awe, at a meeting with President

Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja at the weekend. The party said PDP's thump down to Buhari’s admittance of Awe into the seat of power over alleged murder charge against him following his vowing to averse to anybody with questionable character only smacks of hypocrisy carried too far. In a statement in AdoEkiti yesterday, the state

Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said Nigerians knew the difference between murder charge and contrived cases of alleged murder to hound opponents. The APC was reacting to a statement by the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Jackson Adebayo, that Awe's presence at a meeting of state chairmen of the APC with Buhari,

contradicted the President's vow that he would probe all political killings in the country and bring perpetrators to book. Awe was charged to court in 2014, when the APC was in government for the killing of Ayo Jeje and Rebecca Adewumi, in Erijiyan-Ekiti, his hometown. But Olatubosun said the PDP was being hypocritical in Awe's matter.

ngry workers of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe yesterday took to the street of Ile-ife, Osun State, to protest against the non-payment of their over 64-months allowances running to N2.8m billion. The development which crippled academic activities in the institution, saw the protesting workers singing unprintable songs against the institution which they accused of not being sensitive to their plight. They said that the institution management has refused to pay them their hazard allowance approved by the Federal Gover nment since 2013. Speaking to newsmen on the matter, the Chairman of Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), of the school Comrade Wole Odewunmi, said, "after this, if the management refuses to respond to our demand, we will notify the management of our strike action. This is just a notification ahead of our strike action." Meanwhile, many lecture rooms, senate buildings, library and others were shut down by the workers who threatened to deal with whosoever refuses to join them in the protest. It can be recalled that yesterday's protest made it the second time in two weeks. In a reaction, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Biodun Olarewaju, through a circular said: the University Administration wishes to reiterate that as soon as the Federal Government releases the second tranche of the earned Allowances, payment will be made immediately."

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

Parliament

Kwara

Ekiti

Dogara advances through committees

APC wields the big stick

Season of allegations

Politics The claim by former interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, that oil barons were behind the emergence of the new leadership of the National Assembly has further heightened the furore over the issue, FELIX NWANERI reports

APC’s messy fight

he crack in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is fast defying every measure by the party’s leadership to cement it as the rift between the major actors in the crisis continues to deepen by the day. The crunch, which emanated over the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives, respectively at the inauguration of the Eight National Assembly on June 9, has cut short the euphoria that ushered in the APC government. The duo had emerged against the choice of their party through a power deal they struck with the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The new Senate President and House Speaker were former members of the PDP until they pitched their tent with the APC in 2013. Saraki, a former governor of Kwara State, emerged unopposed through the support of about 60 senators who were present during the inauguration, while Dogara polled 182 votes against Femi Gbajabiamila’s 174. Ironically, Saraki’s main challenger, Senator Ahmed Lawan and other 50 APC senators were at the

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY Editor, POLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Saraki

International Conference Centre (ICC) where they were billed to hold a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari when the election took place in the Red Chamber. No doubt, the development humbled the leadership of the ruling party, which had opted for Lawan and Gbajabiamiala as heads of the upper and lower legislative chambers respectively, but it offered the opposition PDP the opportunity to clinch the position of Deputy Senate President through the immediate past occupant of the seat – Senator Ike Ekweremadu. Though the APC initially threatened sanctions against the “rebelling members” but later made a detour, the issue got to a head when Saraki announced the names of new principal officers of the Senate on June 25. The names were different from those submitted by the leadership of the party. Those who emerged were those who won the mock elections conducted by the zonal caucuses of the party. They include Senators Ali Ndume (Majority Leader), Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Deputy Senate Leader) and Francis Alimikhena (Deputy Chief Whip). The posi-

Akande

Most Northern elite, the Nigerian oil subsidy barons and other business cartels... are quickly backing up the rebellion against APC

tion of Chief Whip has not been decided. Expectedly, the Senator Ahmed Lawan group, which is backed by the leadership of the party rejected the list. But a similar attempt to adopt the Saraki model in the House of Representatives resulted to exchange of blows between members of the two factions in the chamber. Since then, it has been an attrition war, with members of both camps firing salvos despite admonishments by Nigerians for them to put their house in order and face governance. Akande’s shocker The most shocking of the brickbats is the allegation by the former Interim National Chairman of the APC, Bisi Akande, that fuel subsidy thieves and corrupt businessmen were behind the crisis in the APC which culminated in the emergence of Saraki and Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House, respectively contrary to the wishes of the ruling party. The former Osun State governor, who had before the crisis averred that APC had no zoning arrangement, said those jittery of

President Muhammadu Buhari’s constant threat of anti-corruption battle encouraged and financed the rebellions against the ruling party’s democratic positions which led to the emergence of Saraki and Dogara as candidates of the PDP tendencies inside and outside the APC. His words: “Most Northern elite, the Nigerian oil subsidy barons and other business cartels, who never liked Buhari’s anti-corruption political stance, are quickly backing up the rebellion against APC with strong support. While other position seekers are waiting in the wings until Buhari’s ministers are announced, a large section of the South-West see the rebellion as a conspiracy of the North against the Yoruba.” He added that what began as political patronages to be shared into APC membership-spreads among ethnic zones, religious faiths and political rankings and experiences have now become so complicated that the sharing has to be done by and among PDP leadership together with cohorts of former new-PDP affiliations in the APC, by and among gangs of past antiCONTINUED ON PAGE 16

Politics

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara has settled for business with the inauguration of ad hoc committees to fashion a legislative agenda for the Eighth House and other issues, PHILIP NYAM writes

espite the non-composition of the full leadership of the House of Representatives, Speaker Yakubu Dogara has commenced work in earnest with the inauguration of some ad hoc committees to design a framework that would define the operations of the House. Shortly after his election, the speaker set up a legislative agenda drafting committee made up of lawmakers and other professionals outside the House. This committee has since submitted its report and the House actually began deliberation on it before it suddenly proceeded on recess. Although, Dogara had formulated his own legislative agenda, which he unveiled before his election as speaker, he still created the committee to enable other lawmakers make input into what he intends to use as a yardstick in leading the 8th House. A cursory look at the yet to be approved agenda shows that it is an improvement on the legislative agenda fashioned out by the 7th House under the leadership of then speaker, Aminu Tambuwal. This is understandable because Dogara’s campaign was anchored on continuing with the Tambuwal legacies hence the consolidation mantra. In fact, Dogara’s campaign team was christened, the Consolidation Group. Little wonder that while inaugurating the committee, Dogara had told the members that: “Your task is straightforward: to construct a legislative roadmap, a legislative compass for the 8th House of Representatives. The document you will produce at the end of your assignment is expected to guide the actions of the House for the next four years.” He added: “During the campaign for election as presiding officers we unveiled our agenda entitled: ‘My Legislative Agenda for the 8th House of Representatives.’ I also made an acceptance speech after our election. These documents should serve as a guide or at best working documents. You are not bound by them. We expect you to think outside the box. Indeed, we expect you to proffer legislative solutions to the myriad of problems that confront us as a nation.” Another committee put together by Dogara is the Welfare Committee with the responsibility of office allocation, sitting arrangement in the chambers based on seniority and general welfare of members. Membership of the committee was drawn from all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The committee is headed by Hon. Nasiru Baballe Ila from Sokoto

L-R: Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuf Lasun; member of the House Ad-Hoc Committee on Media, Hon. Shawulu Kuwelu; committee chairman, Hon. Sani Zoro and Hon. Abdulrasak Saad, during the inauguration of the at committee. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Dogara advances through committees while Hon. Igbinedion Gabrielle from Edo is the deputy chairman. The members include, Sam Onuigbo, Namdas Abdulrazak Sa’ad, Emmanuel Akpan, Eucheria Anazodo, Haliru Jika, Daniel Ofongo and Adamu Entonu. Others are Ayuba Bello, Edim Mbora, Onyemaechi Mrakpor, Lazarus Ogbee, Ayodele Oladimeji, Toby Okechukwu, Zakari Angulu, Ali Isa J.C., Chukwukere Ikechukwu, Saidu Miga, Sunday Katung, Sani Mohammed, Ahmed Dayyabu and Mohammed Jega. The rest are Ajanah Kabir, Funke Adedoyin, Rita Orji, Musa Onwana, Mahmood Agai, Segun Williams, Mayowa Akinfolarin, Ajibola Famurewa, Olasupo Adeola, Edward Gyang, Gogo Bright, Isa Bashar, Danladi Baidu, Ya’u Galadima and Abubakar Husseini. Media committee Appreciating the importance of information and media, the speaker has inaugurated the Ad hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, and charged it to correct the misconceptions and improve the corporate image of the Eight Assembly. This committee is headed by a former president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Sani Zorro. Other members are Namdas Sa’ad, Gbillah Terseer, Kwewum Shawulu, Jarigbe Jarigbe, Akinade-Fijabi Saheed, Obinna Chidoka, Ahmed Yerima, and Sodaguno Omoni. While inaugurating the committee last week, Dogara noted that in a constitutional democracy, parliamentary activities are

subject to the citizens’ scrutiny and assessment, hence the need to adequately inform the public since parliament holds a central position in the functioning of a participatory government of the people. He said the activities and the work of the National Assembly in Nigeria are often vague to citizens and sometimes completely misunderstood, noting that when there is inadequate knowledge of parliamentary work, it often leads to cynicism, doubt, mistrust and general apathy which is not healthy in a democracy.

We expect you to proffer legislative solutions to the myriad of problems that confront us as a nation

Code of conduct The Speaker has also inaugurated an ad hoc committee on the Code of Conduct of members, to deter and sanction specific cases of unethical behaviour by members in the broader context of preventing and fighting corruption such as conflict of interest issues, transparency and disclosure of interest on matters before the House. The committee is to fashion out a Code of Conduct document that members would subject themselves to in the 8th House of Representatives. The terms of reference for the committee include: Formulation of a Code Conduct of Members document to guide the House, incorporation by reference of the Code of Conduct document as part of the Rules of the House, carrying out all the functions of the Standing Committee on

Ethics and Privileges pending the constitution of the standing committee, recommendation of amendments to aspects of the rules dealing with the conduct of members to be consistent with the Code of Conduct document, any other matter incidental or relevant to the subject matter of the committee jurisdiction, and handling any other matter as may be assigned to it by the House or the Speaker. The committee is led Aminu Shagari and Ossai Nicholas Ossai as deputy chairman. Other members are Yunusa Abubakar, Stella Ngwu, Mojeed Alabi, Abubakar Amuda-Kannike Garba, and Boma Goodhead. Rules and business The last committee to be inaugurated by the speaker is a 15-man ad hoc committee on rules and business to review the standing orders of the House. The committee led by Hon. Orker Jev has as its members, Abayomi Koko, Sopuluchukwu Ezeonwuka, Ajayi Adeyinka, Aminu Shagari, Beni Lar, Abubakar Garba and Ewa Bassey. Others are Sunday Adepoju, Austine Chukwukere, Peter Akpatason, Simon Arabo, Shiddi Danjuma, Razaq Atunwa and Kabiru Shaibu. These committees will no doubt ease the work load before the speaker and chart a smooth path for the leadership to deliver. Perhaps by the time the House reconvene on July 21, it must have resolved some of its teething problems and settle down to business.

Politics 15

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

Saraki

A gale of suspension is rocking the Kwara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), writes BIODUN OYELEYE

ast week, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State wielded the big stick on a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Cook Olododo. He is a man many considered ‘untouchable’ within the Saraki political structure which houses the APC in the state. Aside serving as the state’s scribe, Olododo had also served as Chief of Staff, Commissioner for Water Resources and Special Adviser at different times during the tenure of Dr. Bukola Saraki, He is the second former SSG in the state to be suspended within one month. The first ex-SSG to be given the boot, Senator Mohamed Ahmed, served his term under the administration of the late former Mohammed Lawal. The gale of suspension which was based on the outcome of a panel that investigated alleged anti-party activities against the APC leaders, started on May 28 and affected Senator Ahmed along with four other party chieftains. The first set of suspended party men, all from Baruten Local Government Area of the state, included a former member of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Sabi and chairman of Baruten council, Muhammed Omar Bio, Alhaji Aliyu Kora Sabi and Muhammed Sunu Gofe. News of their suspension was contained in a statement by the APC publicity secretary in the state, Sulyman Buhari. The statement said the duo of Ahmed and Sabi were slammed with one-year suspension while Bio will be on suspension for six months while

Olododo

Atunwa

APC wields the big stick Kora Sabi and Sunu Gofe would be on suspension for one year each. On May 31, 2015, the party came out again to announce another set of suspensions. The Kwara APC hinged the suspension of the party members on alleged anti-party activities during the 2015 general elections and that it followed a report submitted by a panel of inquiry set up by the leadership of APC in the state. Those affected by this second set included Alhaji Abdulrasheed Lafia Ibrahim, Alhaji Samari Abdullahi and Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Gunu. However, it was the third set of suspension, which included Olododo that got many asking questions. Olododo, last week, was suspended along with 17 others from Ilorin East Local Government Area of the state. Olododo has been an influential major member of the Saraki political family which has also given him several opportunities to rise in his political profile. He was suspended for one year over his alleged anti-party activities during the 2015 general elections while another party leader and former chairman of Ilorin East Local Government Area, Alhaji Babatunde Saad was also given the same length of suspension. Apart from the duo, 16 other members of the party were suspended for six months. The affected party men are Mashood Dauda, Oba Sulaiman Asude, Lukman Adeloyin, Wahab Tobe, Sa’ad Yero and Iyanda Olori. Others are Alhaji Amuda Bembe, Alhaji Amuda Musbau, Zafi Saka Adanla, AbdulRaheem Adanla, Abdrahman Sa’ad, Saliman Rasak (Rasaki Pupa), Hon. Raimi Akanji, Alhaji Baba Alata, Alhaji Raufu Asude and Fatai Olodo. According to the leadership of the party, the suspension followed the recommendations of an Investigative and Disciplinary Committee (IDC) chaired by Alhaji Dare Garba which probed the anti-party activities of the affected persons during the 2015 general election. Already, analysts have started pointing to the disagreement over

I am still a bonafide member of APC in Kwara. The suspension is a display of politic

the choice of candidate for the House of Representatives slot for Ilorin East/South federal constituency during the last general election, as the source of Olododo’s problem with the party structure. The former SSG had in 2011 indicated interest to contest the post and had been assured of the ticket. However, in a last-minute manoeuvring, the ticket was withdrawn and given to Dr. Ali Ahmad, then Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state. It was a shocking development but Olododo accepted his fate and moved ahead. While Olododo is from Ilorin East, Ahmad is from Ilorin South. In the 2015 elections, he was said to have similarly indicated interest in the slot and did his homework to get the nod of the party’s leadership. However, the political calculation of the time, given the threat emanating from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the APC, again did not favour him. Thus, instead of giving him the ticket, it was decided that Ahmad would step down from the federal legislative seat while Razaq Atunwa, then Speaker of the state’s assembly, would move up. Today, Ahmad is Speaker of the state Assembly while Atunwa is in the House of Representatives. Atunwa is from Ilorin East and there were agitations during the elections that the council area had not been opportune to have a slot at the federal legislative position. It was therefore the perceived need to pacify the council area in the face of a bitter campaign by the PDP that cost Olododo the slot for the second term. It was gathered that the decision to shove Olododo aside a second time was not well received by the former SSG who until the election was also one of the coordinators of the SURE-P programme in the state. Sources in the APC alleged that probably to spite his party, Olododo directed his followers to line behind the PDP during the last election. Such actions cannot be hidden given the nature of politicking in the state and that was what the party is using against Olododo and the others

some of whom also have similar issues with the party. But Olododo has refused to discuss the matter with the media. The only thing he has said so far is to deny knowledge of his suspension. Olododo, who spoke briefly with some reporters on the development, said he was even out of town as at the time of the conversation. “I am not aware of that and have not been communicated to that effect by anybody. I am not even in town,” he said. But former Chairman of Ilorin East Local Government Council area, Babatunde-Saad, described the suspension as illegal, unconstitutional and mere political gimmicks. A source described BabatundeSaad as ‘second in command’ to Olododo in the politics of their area. “Ordinarily you should know that Alhaji Cook will not talk about this to the press but I can tell you that the former chairman is his second-in command in this area so they understand their politics very well,” a member of the community told New Telegraph. Babatunde-Saad claimed that he did not face any disciplinary committee of the APC for any antiparty activities. The former council boss, while describing the party’s action against him as unfair, said he was mourning the demise of his wife when he heard about his one-year suspension over the radio. He said: “As far as I know, I am still a bonafide member of APC in Kwara. The suspension is a display of politics.” Also reacting to the development, the Chairman of APC in lbagun ward where all the suspended 18 members hail from, Alhaji Kareem Salau, said he was not aware of the suspension of his members although he acknowledged that the leadership of the party in the state had set up a committee about five weeks ago to investigate alleged anti-party activities of some members during the 2015 general elections. Salau, however, urged the leadership of the party to recall the suspended members in the interest of justice and fair play.

Politics

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC crisis: The battle gets messier C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

Buhari’s Presidency, and certain APC legislators and party members who dance round the crisis arena to pick some crumbs. According to him, “polluted interests, who saw the inordinate contest for principal positions as a loophole for stifling APC governments’ desire to fight corruption, hijacked the process of choosing leaders of the National Assembly.” He added that now the conspiracy had blown open, it was doubtful if the present institutions of party leadership could muster the required capacity to arrest the drift. On the way forward, he advised President Buhari and the APC governors to see the party as a platform that may not be strong enough again to carry them to political victory in 2019 and therefore should quickly begin a joint damage control effort to reconstruct the party in its claim to bring about the promised change before the shortcomings begin to aggravate the challenges of governance in their hands. Saraki fires back The Senate President in his response to Akande’s allegation, denied being funded by persons associated with dubious claims in the infamous oil subsidy. Saraki also described as unfortunate, Akande’s claim that his emergence as the president of the 8th Senate was aimed at sabotaging the anti-corruption posture of the Buhari-led Federal Government as well as the ‘Change Agenda’ of the APC. He said: “We wish to state unequivocally that it was wrong and mischievous for Akande to link what happened on the floor of both chambers to some unnamed oil barons. We dare say that the entire story was the figment of the imagination of the author. “We make bold to state that in the 7th Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki was Chairman of the Senate Ad hoc Committee which exposed the fraud and mismanagement in the oil sector. Until Saraki’s motion on the floor of the Senate, no one was in the picture of the rot in the sector or took any action. Therefore, surely, Senator Saraki will be the last person the oil barons will want to see as Senate President. “For avoidance of doubt, we want to make it abundantly clear that it is totally false, untrue and calculated mischief to suggest that Senator Saraki’s emergence as Senate President was facilitated by oil barons. This is a case of calling the dog a bad name so as to hang it. Another blatant lies that cannot fly. In any case, Saraki was elected unopposed as the Senate President, therefore the lies that he was sponsored by the oil barons cannot hold.” The Senate President averred that he would not in any way be a stumbling block to President Buhari’s fight against corruption. According to him, the 8th Senate under him will give all necessary legislative support to the administration to fight and reduce corruption as well as to deliver on his promises to the people of Nigeria.

Buhari

Tinubu

Dogara

Baraje

Lawan

Gbajabiamila

Dogara: Akande`s allegations false The House of Representatives Speaker, on his part, described the allegations levelled against him by Akande as false, baseless and unbecoming of a statesman. Dogara, who spoke through his Special Adviser (Media), Turaki Hassan, also denied that no one sponsored him, saying “his antecedent, capacity, experience, being a team player, incorruptibility and his progressive mind and activities are the qualities that endeared him to his colleagues.” The Speaker challenged Akande to name the so-called oil barons whom he alleged sponsored his election. He said: “In case Chief Akande does not know, the first investigative motion adopted by the 8th House of Representatives under the leadership of the Speaker was to investigate the allegation of fraud in the oil-swap contract awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).” Wondering how he can order investigation into activities of those who allegedly sponsored his election, Dogara said what is expected of Akande at this critical time in the history of Nigeria and the APC is to play the role of an elder-statesman and help to bring warring party members to the table and not ignite crisis that will further divide the party that he helped to build. He also pledged to compliment President Buhari`s anti-corruption war as the present crop of

Akande and co believe that they have exclusive right to determine who occupies what position in today’s Nigeria

leaders don’t have any excuse to give to Nigerians on the change promised them before and during the election that brought APC into power.

sis, Baraje, however advised the president to strengthen his information gathering network, so as to have a clear and true picture of what is happening.

Party chieftains react APC chieftains, who spoke on the raging verbal war described it as unfortunate. One of the stalwarts, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, said he was disappointed that Akande who had led the party and served as a state governor authored a statement in which he was seeking to divide the nation by setting the North against the South-West. Baraje, who once served as the national chairman of the PDP, however, said: “I do not know where Chief Akande and his cohorts are getting this unsubstantiated information they are circulating. We challenge them to provide proof and let Nigerians make their judgement.” He added: “Akande and co believe that they have exclusive right to determine who occupies what position in today’s Nigeria and whoever tries to challenge their position must be subjected to savage attack in the media. That tactic is definitely undemocratic.” He also faulted the claim by the former APC interim leader that some old and new PDP members met in his house with a view to hijacking the National Assembly through the aspiration of Saraki as the Senate President. Expressing optimism that the party would soon get over the cri-

ACF warns against tribal sentiments The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), in its reaction berated Akande for accusing the North of conspiring against Yorubas in the current face-off in the APC. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Muhammad Ibrahim, the group, not only dismissed Akande’s allegations as “disappointing, reckless and unbecoming of an elder statesman,” but cautioned against tribal and regional sentiments, which according to it, Nigerians voted against in the last elections. “The era of tribal and religious politics or inciting one tribe against the other has no place in our present political focus. ACF therefore appeals to our elders and all Nigerians to show decorum and civility in their utterances, as all hands should now be on deck to move the nation forward,” the group advised. No doubt, the last is yet to be heard of the crisis from the warring camps, but stakeholders advised that all the APC leadership need to do is to close ranks and deploy internal conflict resolving mechanism to bring the various interest groups on the same page as Nigerians cannot afford to wait any longer for governance to take off.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State have been at daggers drawn in recent times over some issues. ADESINA WAHAB examines some of them

Season of allegations

he nation is presently experiencing economic recession and everybody, including the government, is feeling the pinch. For a state like Ekiti, regarded as one of the least financially buoyant in the federation, no amount of money coming to the coffers of the government is too small. However, despite the crunchy situation, the people are not amused by the allegations and counter-allegations of misuse of funds recently levelled against each other by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The opposition APC was the first to go to town by alleging that Governor Ayodele Fayose awarded himself a payoff of N720 million for the last eight months of his first term in office that he could not finish. The Supreme Court, early this year, held that Fayose’s removal from office in October 2006 was illegal and unconstitutional. “For a governor, who calls himself a friend of the masses, to award himself N720 million as the arrears of his unfinished first term, while refusing to pay workers and poor pensioners is selfish and callous. “The governor has not paid September 2014 workers salary arrears while he has not paid pensioners in the last four months, even as the governor claimed he is a friend of workers and poor masses. It is shameful and heartless for the governor to refuse to pay statutory pensions benefit to Ekiti elders which is not more than N5,000 for many of them, who meritoriously served the state while at the same time cancelling former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s social security scheme that paid N5,000 promptly to 20,000 elderly Ekiti people. Many of the pensioners who have no children to take care of them have started dying,” APC State Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, alleged. The governor, who reacted through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, faulted APC’s claim and described it as a lie taken too far. “From all indications, the APC in Ekiti State has promoted falsehood to the level of a trade, and we pity the party and its lying leaders. Governor Fayose left office on October 16, 2006, eight months to the end of his tenure and Ekiti State had three governors within that period. Does it then make any sense that the same Fayose would come back eight years after to approve payment already made to three governors after him for himself ? Let’s even assume that the eight months’ salary is to be paid, is the monthly salary of a governor more than N1 million? How then does N1 million per

Fayose

month equal N720 million in eight months? “Again, severance allowance is 300 per cent of annual basic salary and the basic salary of a governor is not more than N2 million. So can N2 million in three places be equal to N720 million? This is simply falsehood promoted to the most ridiculous level and we wish the APC spokesperson, Olatubosun, well in his lying assignment,”Adelusi replied. As if that was not enough, the issue of diversion of funds for party use came up. The PDP, through its spokesman, Jackson Adebayo, alleged that the APC government of Kayode Fayemi diverted over N4 billion of state funds to the secretariat of the APC before leaving office last October. He also gave details of how the money caused division and confusion in the party, leading to the formation of different caucuses. “The recent workers’ verification exercise in the state has revealed how the administration of former Governor Fayemi diverted over N4 billion entitlements of workers to the APC through various means. Ghost workers detected during the exercise were among the methods used to perpetrate the fraud. “Some of the civil servants who collaborated with the APC in the shady deal, and who claimed that they were short-changed, have exposed the deal. The money involved in the fraud was withdrawn from the salary accounts of civil servants and moved to the APC secretariat for sharing from time to time in the four years that the APC government led by Fayemi lasted in Ekiti State. “Also the missing deductions from workers’ salaries for the months of April, May, June, July

Fayemi

From all indications, the APC in Ekiti State has promoted falsehood to the level of a trade

and August, 2014 running to about N1.8 billion was also traced to the APC secretariat, as information has it that it was packaged for the running of the party after Fayemi lost his re-election bid in June 2014. We have it on good authority that the missing deductions from civil servants’ salaries for five months were gathered together immediately it dawned on the Fayemi-led government that there will not be funds to maintain the party after Fayemi’s exit on October 16, 2014 because the party would not have access to the money from the ghost workers again,” Adebayo alleged. The party also called on the anti-graft agencies to act on petitions submitted to them without further delay. In reacting to the allegation, the APC, through Olatubosun, said it was to divert people’s attention from weighty allegations against Governor Fayose. “Governor Fayose has gone back to his old practice of falsehood and blackmail to divert Ekiti people’s attention from proven cases of sharp practices in governance. PDP’s allegation of diversion of N4 billion by former Governor Fayemi is to take Ekiti people’s attention from N720 million he awarded himself as salary arrears for his unfinished first time while at the same time owing workers’ salaries and pensioners’ entitlements. “Is it that the governor is just realising that N4 billion was diverted by Fayemi after eight months in office and after the governor was exposed as an enemy of workers, having owed workers’ salaries and pensions at the time he awarded himself N720 million and paying back N650 million to his election contractors. “It is laughable that as much as N4 billion was diverted and or

embezzled by the Fayemi administration and Fayose is just knowing eight months after assumption of office, pretending that a kangaroo verification exercise had revealed this. This is better told to the marines! “Fayemi had earlier offered his administration for probe when Fayose started a similar campaign of calumny to cover his tracks in financial mismanagement but the governor had no courage for such exercise because there was nothing to probe,” he said. As a state where education is the major industry, the sector was not spared, as it was among the issues that became the bone of contention between the two sides. While the government accused the immediate past APC government led by Fayemi of killing the sector, the opposition replied that Fayose is rubbishing the legacy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. “We urged Fayose to preserve the greatest legacy the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo bequeathed to the Yoruba people, as the recent announcement by the governor on the need for the commercialisation of basic education is a disservice to the memory of the late sage. “It is another rape on the constitution of Nigeria which guarantees free Universal Basic Education from primary school to JSS 3. “We want to know what informed the decision. Fayose has marked himself out as the last bastion of conservative partisans insensitive to universal quest to acquire basic education. “It is regrettable that the governor has reduced all government engagements and governance itself to frivolities and this has to stop,” Olatubosun stated. CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Criticism and nation building Fred Nwaozor

riticism can be defined as the expression of disapproval of someone or something. In the same vein, a critic of a person or system disapproves of them and expresses such view publicly; one who writes reviews and expresses opinions about books, films, music or any art work having considered it carefully can also be referred to as ‘a critic’. Criticism is simply a matter of flushing out a certain thought or attitude and trying to change it. It is to show that things are not as self-evident as one believes. Thus, criticism ensures that what is accepted as selfevident will no longer be accepted as such. Suffice it to say; criticism in any society is a matter of making facile gestures or remarks difficult. Criticisms are veritable recipes in any area of human endeavour. For instance; in Steward-Client relationship, if the client has a criticism to tender, it means he/she wants to give feedback on the services being rendered to him/ her, thereby creating an opportunity for the steward to learn more about the person he is working for and how to convert them into a satisfied client member. Same measure is applicable in a Trader-Customer relationship. Similarly, in business venture, working or partnering with someone

who is patient and able to receive as well as act on criticism signifies that both parties involved can work towards a better or greater outcome. Furthermore; in movie production, criticism enables the producer to know what his audience actually want. If one always thinks he is right but doesn’t get feedback from anyone else, he wouldn’t know if he is really doing well. Whether you are selling, servicing, performing, or leading, listening and acting on those honest views or reactions will tell you precisely what is good and what could be done better. Perhaps, you can use the information to change your performance, exhibition or product, as the case may be. In public service, criticism has the tendency of guiding the public servants away from bad practices, and towards good and acceptable ones. It would enable the said workers to take a step back or have a rethink with a view to making amends or adjustment where necessary. The socio-political arena is not left out while discussing the inevitable role of criticism in nation-building. Undoubtedly, a little constructive criticism from the members of the public such as the civil society groups, the electorate, the religious organisations or what have you, channelled towards the political office holders can yield the anticipated change in the country or

society in question. Considering the positive impact of constructive criticism, there is no gain reiterating the fact that it is indeed a welcome gesture or required factor toward the socio-economic development of any nation; hence, ought to be sustained. To this end, there is need for us to acknowledge that the language we use in response to criticism is vitally important. Whenever criticism is tendered by any concerned individual or group, the recipient is expected to try at all cost to avoid getting into an argument. Instead, they should turn the exchange into a discussion on how to resolve the predicament; such approach would keep the door open for the required change. Most importantly, criticisms are not meant to be taken personally. Even if one feels he/she is being criticized unfairly, he shouldn’t retaliate with an extreme knee-jerk reaction; such response will worsen the situation and can even harm the person’s reputation as well. Therefore, it is essential to always remember to not be offended by someone’s remarks even if you think it is a personal attack. On the other hand; having noted the enormous significance of constructive criticism in nation-building, there is also a compelling need for the critics to be mindful at all times when tendering their criticisms. They should know

when they are supposed to tender the criticism as well as how it ought to be presented. It is worthy to note that, some critics lack the orientation on when and how to present their criticism; this set of persons invariably tender their contrary opinions as a form of antagonism thereby making the supposed recipient misunderstand the gesture. More so, critics are meant to comprehend that criticism is expected to be accompanied by the presumed remedy to the anomaly that is being criticised. Most so called critics usually end up raising a cloud of dust in the name of criticism. Unequivocally, a criticism that is not tendered with a presumed solution to the problem being criticised is simply a mere noise that is intended to cause pandemonium or controversy rather than addressing the situation at hand. In view of the aforementioned facts, everyone at all levels including political leaders, followers, craftsmen, traders, businessmen, teachers and public servants, as the case may be, is expected to take criticism seriously regardless of the circumstance in order not to abuse the tool, which has proven beyond any reasonable doubt to be the engine room of national development. •Nwaozor, ( frednwaozor@gmail.com) is a Public Affairs Analyst & Civil Rights Activist (+2348028608056)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Open letter to APC MY Dear APC leaders, I wish to congratulate you and your party on the meritorious victory you achieved at the 2015 polls, and also offer my sincere advice to you on how to manage your success. It is my prayer that you read this missive with open mind and with your heads and not your hearts. First, it is important you all understand that the victory you won is not because the name of your party is so sweet or the faces of your leaders are so fine that Nigerians could not resist voting for you. None of the above! This victory came because majority of Nigerians were tired of the poor leadership and greed shown by your opponent, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and not because the name Peoples Democratic Party was not sweet in the ear. Both APC and PDP are merely a combination of alphabets and words like APGA, Labour Party and so on; to the extent that Nigerians should not be taken for granted. It is also important to remind you that Nigeria is populated by about 170 million people and with about two hundred and fifty ethnic groups and diverse in terms of religious inclinations that no one section of the coun-

try or individual is qualified to claim the victory achieved by the party at the polls and all the good that should come with it. It is also important to fault the idea of holding primary elections among members of the party as a way of selecting leadership of the National Assembly without working out a peaceful strategy of reaching consensus among the Senators and member of the House of Representatives. And having any party meeting with whoever, on the day and time an important national event like the inauguration of the National Assembly was scheduled was a wrong way to start leading a country as complex as Nigeria. It made it seem as if the party was greater than the nation. The APC should refrain from blaming any individual or pointing accusing fingers at any one at all for being responsible for the actions of the National Assembly members. Only those National Assembly members who cast the relevant votes should take responsibility as adults for their actions ; instead of some insinuations in some quarters blaming Atiku Abubakar who is by no means an elected member of the National Assembly. • Godwin Ugbeji, Makurdi

Ikpeazu's phobia for jingles THE Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu was invariably telling the world that what would bring honour to his personality and office was service to duty and not media sycophancy. Although the relatively fine-looking governor did not mean the print media but jungle producers; he nonetheless did not intimate us in that report what price would be meted out to any offender among politicians and businessmen who would take praise-singing of the governor in jingles as a form of attracting attention. The expression by Ikpeazu that jingles irritate him could be the same as the expression of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India as noted by New Delhi TV (NDTV), when the Prime Minister said that a perfectly healthy man can contract a lot of ailments if he starts suffering from diabetes; bad governance is worse than diabetes. NDTV quoted Modi to have said this in his first reply to the motion of thanks on the Presidential address, where he outlined

his government's priorities. Ikpeazu may learn that what formed Modi’s thrust of speeches in the two Houses of Parliament were cooperative federalism, development and good governance; not the other way round. Like Modi would say, it is expected of Ikpeazu to understand and tell those he is governing with that, “Good Governance cannot remain merely a philosophy. Concrete steps have to be taken for realising its goals. Individual efforts can bring excellence but only collective efforts can deliver effectively. It is our collective responsibility to ensure nobody sleeps hungry. Let's change the image of our country from ‘Scam India’ to ‘Skilled India.’” Notwithstanding, we know that the governor was in a bid to be civil by his body language and not to be severe to the people that voted for him to be governor. The ban on jingles that would be meant to promote the good works of the governor when delivered was however dicey: The government was yet to inform the world if it would be

making jingles that would reflect and amplify the works of the governor, either. By the way! The message of the governor was understandable; hence the governor was supposedly telling us that he would attract notice of Abia people and the world through his duty. It’s palpable that he was telling Abia people that he was fit for the system and the task before him. Ikpeazu conversely wanted the people to look at him and see him as what a governor should be like and not like a gubernatorial candidate on an electioneering campaign where jingles and music are used as weapons that send message of the candidate across, while at the same time, deafening the eardrums of the people. Ikpeazu has no excuse not to make Abia better. We want people from across the world to say that Abia State has left Nigeria behind. That would bring competition among states in Nigeria. • Odimegwu Onwumere, Port-Harcourt.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

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Ogoni and UNEP Report

very news channel in the country ran the report detailing how inter national oil giant, BP, is set to comply with a U.S. court judgement ordering it to pay a whopping £12bn (N3.6trillion), for the spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010the largest by a single company in US history. A federal judge was expected to rule on how much BP owed in Clean Water Act penalties following the massive disaster which refocuses attention on a similar report which recommended remediation effort in Ogoniland. As in Ogoniland where oil exploitation was conducted with scant regard for international best practices, over 125 million gallons of oil spewed into the Gulf after an explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in 2010, prompting the government to move in to protect citizens. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was one of the worst environmental disasters in US history and claimed 11 lives. As at the time the U.S. Supreme Court rejected BP’s legal challenge of the original compensation package of 2012, it had already paid out $2.3bn in business economic loss claims out of a total of $4.25bn in compensation claims to individuals and businesses, according to Patrick Juneau, the administrator appointed by the courts to handle claims. The example of BP contrasts sharply with the curious reluctance by the FG to

About 17 years ago, Shell was forced to pull out of the area land following mass protests by the people against its operations

sanction Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for environmental atrocities in Ogoni, Rivers State. This chronicle of massive pollution of farmlands, rivers and streams, was contained in the United Nations Environmental Report which is being ignored. Despite protests in the Niger-Delta for the revocation of the licence granted the Anglo-Dutch oil giant to explore in Nigeria, the FG refused to act on revelations by UNEP that the company polluted Ogoniland massively. About 17 years ago, Shell was forced to pull out of the area land following mass protests by the people against its operations. UNEP spokesman, Nick Nuttal, said the study was not in-

tended to “blame any particular stakeholder operating in Ogoniland”. Former president of MOSOP, Ledum Mitee said the only option for Shell was to commence immediate remediation exercise in Ogoniland and not to infuriate the angry people with the spurious argument that the pollution was caused by a third party (sabotage). Mitee described as appalling government's spending of billions of Naira to rehabilitate youths (ex-militants) who wielded guns to protest criminal neglect and plunder of their resources while Ogoni people, who opted for non-violent protest, went away with nothing. By foot-dragging, the government has vindicated the allegation that Shell is a sacred cow that reportedly garnered over $30 billion from its operations in Ogoniland before things went sour. We condemn this brazen act by the FG on the report against Shell in Ogoni land and reaffirm that hiding this strange reluctance under the pretext that it is studying the UNEP report before determining the next line of action is aggravated mischief. Part of the report listed “Shell’s atrocious breach of minimum requirements of the Environmental Guidelines and Standards for Petroleum Industries in Nigeria and its own standards”. Executive Director, ERA/ FoEN, Mr. Nnimmo Bassey, said, “The UNEP assessment with documented evidence of widespread pollution in Ogo-

niland is not surprising. It has vindicated our position that Shell, and not the people, is wholly responsible for this environmental assault.” Director, Global Issues at Amnesty International, Audrey Gaughran, said: “This report proves Shell has got away with denying it for decades, falsely claiming they work to best inter national standards”. It is indeed sad how such environmental issue that will not go unpunished in the home countries of some multi-national corporations is treated with kid gloves in Nigeria even as the federal government watches today. The Ogoni have suffered unprecedented losses following the misfortune inflicted on them by oil prospectors and giants. It becomes more exasperating when they have to beg for justice. Most vindicated by the report, perhaps, is charismatic for mer MOSOP leader, late Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni leaders who were executed in 1993 because the battle for which they were killed was to position Ogoniland for recognition as devastated and despoiled and that appropriate remedial measures should be taken. The time to implement the UNEP Report on Ogoniland is now! Further foot-dragging reinforces the allegation of an evil conspiracy between oil companies and the government against ordinary folks it should ordinarily be responsible to as the case in the U.S. clearly vindicates.

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Politics

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

PDP, APC trade accusations CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

A media aide of Fayose, Lere Olayinka, who replied the APC, however accused the party of killing education in the state during the Fayemi era. “Fayemi killed education in the state and the Fayose-led PDP government is trying all that it could to restore the lost glory of the state in the education sector. The government has no plan to commercialise basic education in the state. “It is insulting for the

APC to have made reference to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The APC does not stand for one single ideal of Awolowo. Or would Awolowo have scrapped functional universities in preference for N3.3 billion hilltop governor’s lodge as done by the APC government of Fayemi? “The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria guarantees free Universal Basic Education from primary school to JSS 3.That is a law that no government can contravene.

“However, does the APC as a party have moral rights to speak on education? Here is a party, whose government scrapped universities under the excuse that the state could not fund more than one university, but the same government could use borrowed funds to build N3.3 billion governor’s lodge, civic centre, state pavilion and other irrelevant projects,” Olayinka noted. The tit for tat politicking continued with quarrel over the handling of

some projects left uncompleted by Fayemi. Fayemi’s APC accused Fayose of deliberately abandoning projects labelled ‘Legacy Projects’. “The APC in Ekiti State has observed that Fayose has abandoned his predecessor’s legacy projects, and he is doing so in bad faith. It is a disservice to the people of Ekiti State for Governor Fayose to abandon legacy projects of the Fayemi administration simply because he wants to rubbish the achievements of

his predecessor. “We wonder why a development-oriented governor would abandon an edifice like the Oba Adejugbe Hospital which was already completed by the Fayemi administration, such that overgrown weeds now adorn the once beautiful edifice. Oba Adejugbe Hospital was completed and commissioned by the Fayemi administration, while contract for equipping the hospital was already awarded but Fayose on assumption of office cancelled the con-

tract and has abandoned the hospital to be overgrown with weeds. “Fayose has also abandoned Funmi Olayinka Civic Centre which was 70 per cent completed before Fayemi left office. Fayose stopped work on the project after contractors allegedly refused to pay gratification of 10 per cent of the money already paid. The Civic Centre is composed of an event centre, modern e-library, art gallery, cinema, archives and research centre. We wonder why the governor cannot complete this project instead of starting another building in the nearby Heroes Park where the late Deputy Governor Funmi Olayinka was buried thus disfiguring the park. This is sheer pettiness and unwarranted insult to the memory of the dead,” Olatunbosun stated. He said Fayose should take a cue from his predecessor, Fayemi, who completed projects he inherited from his predecessor, Eng. Segun Oni. Fayose, who chided the APC through Olayinka, said his government would not spend the state’s scarce resources on the execution of white elephant projects, describing most of the uncompleted projects by Fayemi as “wasteful spending of public fund.” “It is shameful that Olatunbosun could gleefully claim that the Fayemi-led government commissioned an uncompleted Oba Adejugbe General Hospital, Ado-Ekiti. Or how do you commission a hospital without medical equipment? Is hospital just about structures? Isn’t that a fraud, exposure of which can cost Dr Fayemi his ministerial ambition? “Instead of wasting the state resources on Funmi Olayinka Civic Centre, the Fayose-led government is constructing a benefitting edifice; Funmi Olayinka Women Development Centre, which will have a modern library and that to us is more beneficial to the people of Ekiti than a Civic Centre,” he stated. While the two main parties continue to throw tantrums at each other, the people of the state are only concerned about better living standard and how to escape the biting economic realities. To most people in the state, if the parties think levelling allegations, most of which they do not substantiate would decide who wins the 2018 governorship election, they will be getting it wrong. The winner may emerge when the people compare and see the difference between the periods, 2010 to 2014 and 2014 to 2018.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JULY 7, 2015

Arts

CULTURE

WTD: Theatre in conflict resolution • NANTAP honours Austen-Peters Tony Okuyeme

he serene Banquet Hall of the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, came alive with series dancedrama and drums ensemble performances as the Lagos State Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), celebrated this year’s edition of the World Theatre Day with pomp and ceremony. The International Theatre Institute (ITI) an arm of UNESCO had declared the day to be commemorated on every March 27th and the NANTAP has annually commemorated the day since 1991 but the Lagos chapter of the association has had to move this year’s celebration to June 26, 2015, because of the uncertainties of the 2015 election. The election that would have held in February 2015 was later moved to March 28th and this affected the planning and staging of the 2015 edition of the day. Held under the theme of ‘Theatre and Conflict Resolution in the 21st Century’, the one day commemorative event featured a keynote speech on the theme of the commemoration, performances, presentation of awards and investiture of the World Theatre Day personality. Arts and culture promoter, managing director and founder of Terra Kulture, Victoria Island Lagos, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters was decorated as the WTD 2015 Distinguished Personality. The event which had the Managing Director of FSDH, Mr. Rilwane Bello Osagie, as chairman of the occasion, and the Country Director of British Council, Lagos, Ms. Connie Price as guest speaker, brought together dignitaries from various spheres of endeavours, including the

TONY OKUYEME Arts Editor tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

Members of the Crown Troupe of Africa in a dance-drama performance at the World Theatre Day 2015 celebration held at the National Theatre, Lagos.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services) and former Director General of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), Prof. Duro Oni, NANTAP president, Mr. Tunde Obalana, who was represented at the event by the deputy president, Mr Steph Ogundele, stage and screen stars, students, among others. Highlights of the event include the induction of some personalities as “Ambassadors of the Theatre” profession and another set as “Certified Thespians”. Those who were decorated as “Ambassadors of the Theatre” include, filmmaker and Executive Director of iREP documentary film festival Mr. Femi Odugbemi, Efe Omoregbe, Mrs. Laja Adedoyin, the actor Yemi Sodimu, Dr. Ostia Ezewanabe of the University of Lagos and the founder and President of the African Film Academy Peace Anyiam Osigwe. Those who were decorated as “Certified Thespians” include the dance major and filmmaker Emem Isong, Najite Dede, Lancelot Oduwa Imaseun, Teju Babyface, Ejike Asiegbu, Pat Oghre Imobhio and Rogers Ofime. The idea of the awards, the Chairperson, NANTAP Lagos

State chapter, Miss Faith Eboigbe, said, is to remind the certified thespians of where it all started for them and that is the stage, adding that as for the Ambassadors of the Theatre, it is to appreciate them for their selfless service to the theatre profession. “Honouring some of the thespians is to thank them for keeping on even when arts was not recognized in the country. It not easy finding space and putting up a performance in this country, arts is suffering and the practitioners too. “Each year we identify and recognize a personality that has contributed greatly to the growth and development of the theatre profession and Mrs. Austen-Peters rightly qualifies to be honoured because of her immense contribution to the growth and development of the arts. Apart from running the upscale cultural centre in Lagos, Mrs. Austen-Peters has dedicated the space at Terra to sustained theatre production. She has also ventured into production of theatre with the musical production SARO, a production that has engaged so many of our members. I must say that the passion and commitment she has exhibited

L-R: Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, a guest, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters, Mr. Rilwane Bello Osagie, Miss Faith Eboigbe and Prof. Duro Oni at the World Theatre Day 2015 celebration at National Theatre, Lagos.

is worth celebrating and recognizing,” Egboigbe said. She added, “We want to seize this opportunity to call on government to put structures in place for the arts. We need sustainable development for the arts which will create enabling environment for the arts”. Austen-Peters, who spoke on behalf of other recipients, thanked NANTAP for the recognition, adding she will keep expanding Terra Kulture to help promote the theatre culture. She said, “Terra Kulture was established because there were few places in Nigeria with appropriate ambience, for rich cultural heritage. “It is a private sector initia-

tive recognized as a cultural hub in Nigeria for expatriates, students Nollywood, Hollywood stars and members of the diplomatic corps. I want to keep expanding it to help promote the theatre culture,” she said. The Country Director of British Council, Connie Price, who was the guest lecturer, in her paper underscored the significance of theatre in conflict resolution, stressing that “never before has there been as much imperative as there is today to find new, engaging approaches that support the peaceful building and conflict management agenda. And so now more than CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Arts

Tony Okuyeme

s the fight against piracy rages, the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) recently launched Biometric Card project towards data base development. The launching of the project was part of activities organised by the New PMAN interim National Executive headed by Mr. Pretty Okafor, and held at Planet One, Maryland, Lagos. Okafor in his speech said that the Biometric Card project which was being launched is a climax in the re-construction of the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), noting that the same applies to the Music Conference tagged: ‘Colour of Music Conference’, held same day. “The Biometric Card is designed to serve the primary purpose of database development. We want to gather and mange proper records of persons involved in the music business in Nigeria,” he said. Okafor added that the Biometric Card will “identify and authenticate individual and group participation in Nigeria’s emerging music industry. It will avail holders a range of special benefits that are relevant to their operations in the industry. “The Music Conference on its part is about putting the heads of selected experts and opinion-leaders in entertainment together to reason-out the appropriate strategy or strategies, as the case may be, for the steady and sustainable development of Nigeria’s music industry under the auspices of PMAN. It is my belief that at the end of the Conference, sets of potent and costeffective ideas will emerge for quick implementation in the overall interest of all Nigerian musicians. In his address titled “PMAN Scientific Solution to Music/Films Piracy in Nigeria, the National Treasurer of PMAN, Hariz IB. Okeilo (Dr. Zimakoy) said that the New PMAN interim National Executive headed by Mr. Pretty Okafor is articulating and reviewing existing procedures and processes in order to improve general operations towards re-positioning the music industry in Nigeria for sustainable growth. He also seized the opportunity to draw the attention of the Federal Government and well-meaning citizens to the dangers of music/film piracy in Nigeria and to the bold steps being taken by the new interim executive to eliminate the “hydra-headed monster from our system”. Okeilo said, “With the Copyright Act (as amended in 1992 and 1999), musical works and sound recordings became eligible for copyright in Nigeria. The Act provides that copyright is infringed by any person who without license or authorisation of rights owner produces or attempts to produce, reproduce, and commercially make use of a musical work. “For many years, Nigeria’s copyrights law has been disobeyed. The creative rights of Nigerian entertainers are being flagrantly trampled upon. Pirates have taken total control of our country’s music market, producing and selling our works unchallenged. “As the umbrella body of all musicians and the principal stakeholder in the Nigerian entertainment industry, PMAN is charged with the responsibility of protecting the copyright of both local and international music artists/ products from abuse and unlawful exploitation. This responsibility was not taken seriously by previous PMAN administrations,” he said, stressing that the Nigerian Entertainment industry is certainly one sector that has been

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Piracy: PMAN rallies members on Biometric Card, seeks FG support

PMAN president, Mr. Pretty Okafor (4th left), president of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Mr. Emeka Ike and other stakeholders during a 1000 man walk in Lagos against piracy.

highly bruised and battered by pirates and other species of spoilers. According to him, music business in Nigeria is a multi-trillion naira income-source, but that due to poor structuring and management, the industry has been unable to sustain itself progressively. “The exit of reputable international music companies such as EMI, Polygram, and Sony Music proves this point. “We have come to the clear unmistakable understanding that the greatest problem confronting musicians/ film producers and credible investors in the entertainment industry is piracy and non-payment of music/film usage dues. A situation where works owners who work tirelessly to produce musical/film products to enrich society and its culture are deprived of benefits of their toils is not an ideal situation. “In line with the policy of the new administration on burying piracy, all music/film products CD’s must be barcoded and locked henceforth to check piracy and prevent easy duplication of works of work owners. Also, all music/film products shall henceforth pass through one identifiable channel which is the African Music/Films Distribution Network Limited (AMDN), to the music/film market,” he said. Okeilo added: “We have a responsibility to know who is doing what in our industry and in that regard therefore, all CDs replicating plants, recording studios, record companies, label owners, studio engineers, DJs, music/film distributors and retailers, music/films download operators, music promoters, artist managers, music award organisers, mobile advertisers; and those who use music/films to promote their goods and services are to obtain PMAN operations and or usage permit. “The group mentioned above shall be captured in the ongoing PMAN entertainment industry data base as associate members of the Union to qualify to do business in our industry or use

music/films as the case may be.” He therefore appealed to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to end, what he called, “the isolation of the entertainment indus-

try from its policy machinery”. Highlights of the event include performances and presentation of the biometric cards to members, including Charles Oputa aka Charlie Boy.

Feast of performances as NANTAP honours Austen-Peters CO N TI N U ED FROM PAGE 21

ever, we need to look seriously at theatre as a critical tool for conflict management”. Noting that conflict can be both violent and non-violent, and that it can occur anywhere, at home, in school, communities, society at large and between nations, Price said that experience and evidence has shown that often violent conflict has its roots in lack of motivation and method to deal with it and non-violent conflict as well. “Conflict can be sudden or it can simmer under the surface, conflict begins early, we see children wrestling over a toy or bullying someone different in some way. This gives us some clues about the connection between the emotions and conflict and it tells us that conflict sensitivity needs to be inculcated from childhood. “Conflict management through theatre offers an avenue for an alternative approach to achieving a deep level of transformation. This approach involves understanding the mechanism of transformation through theatre and drama by exposing people or a group of people to experiencing a situation for themselves. This experience can be in the form of body movements, gestures and words through expressivity and emotion,” she said. Price advocated for participatory theatre, which she explains,

is known under m any names, including theatre for development, theatre for education, popular theatre and transformatory theatre, “Participatory theatre builds on conventional theatre but it gives an opportunity to address issues and provides an active way for the audience and community to become involved in the issues explored and form a sense of ownership. “Participatory theatre is made for and by the community; it engages people in conflict to identify issues of concern, analyse and then together think about how change can happen, and particularly how relationships of power and oppression can be transformed. “Through the use of participatory theatre as a conflict management tool, conflict situations are enacted on stage and performed by the people involved. This approach gives the people or spectators the opportunity to enter the scene and to change the course of the presented story,” she said. Highlights of the celebration include performances by the Crown Troupe of Africa and other theatre organisations. But beyond the performances and awards, there was also the launching of an endowment fund for the chapter, aimed at “supporting projects by members and meeting them at their challenging moments”.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, june 30, 2015

Skills SAP Africa equips 20,000 pupils with coding skills

Education FAILED SYSTEM

Following the refusal of the YABATECH management to allocate hostels to the students since May when the college resumed for the new session, the students are now taking shelters in classrooms and abandoned halls.

Mojeed Alabi

heir ambition is to secure admission to Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, the pioneer higher institution in the country, to acquire quality polytechnic education in a learning-friendly environment that is equipped with state-of-theart facilities. But that dream, to many of the students, seemed to have become a mere wishful thinking. Omolewa Akinbote (not real name), a 19-year-old fresh student at the Department of Building Technology, will never forget in a hurry her experience in the college in the last two months. Akinbote, a National Diploma (ND I) student, penultimate week, was unable to comprehend anything during the Building Construction (BLD 103) lecture, which held at the second floor of the college’s Education Trust Fund Building. She had slept off throughout the one-hour lecture due to fatigue resulting from lack of adequate sleep. Akinbote, who was attending her second lecture for that day, lamented that she had to struggle with sleep daily during lectures. Looking tired and unkempt, with signs of boredom on her face, while narrating her ordeal, she regretted that the last two months on the campus had been a hell for her. But Akinbote is not alone in this predicament. The student and her other colleagues had in the past three weeks been sleeping in classrooms and other makeshifts, following the alleged refusal of the management to either allocate hostels or open the rooms for them. Akinbote, who lost her father

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

Some of the students sleeping in a classroom

YABATECH: Where students sleep in classrooms few years ago and lives in Badagry with her mother, a staff of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), told New Telegraph that she resorted to sleeping in the classrooms with her other colleagues since coming from Badagry to school every day could be financially and emotionally stressful. She said: “When the college resumed for the new academic session in May, I was coming to school twice in a week for registration, but as soon as lectures began in June, I had no alternative than to move my belongings to school and joined my colleagues who were already sleeping in classrooms for lack of hostel accommodation. “I live in Badagry. Apart from the cost of transportation, the traffic logjam on Mile 2-Badagry Road is usually terrible. There was a particular day I left home as early as 6am, and I could not get to school until 3pm.” However, she noted that as female students, sleeping in classrooms with their male counterparts is a terrible experience, which could be better imagined than experienced.

Ladipo

But sleeping under this condition is as good as sleeping in an open place

“Apart from the fact that we could not sleep until 12 midnight everyday, we do not also sleep with our two eyes closed for fear of being raped,” Akinbote said, adding that they have to wake up as early as 4:30am daily to take their bath in the open. “With such daily routine, why would one not sleep during class?” she argued, calling on the management to address the students’ accommodation need without further delay. Another student, who simply identified himself as Mayowa, and who comes to school from Ikorodu everyday, said he had to sleep on campus on Wednesday so that he could get to the college’s clinic early for the mandatory medical test the following day. Mayowa explained: “My department was scheduled for the medical tes vvt on Thursday and there was no way I could get to school by 7am from Ikorodu, so I decided to sleep on campus. But, I can tell you it was really a terrible experience.” According to him, he could neither get a space to sleep in the classrooms at the ETF build-

ing nor at the New Hall as there was no longer space and so he had to join his mates, who he said had already “colonized” an abandoned open hall at the back of the popular “Indomie Village” on the campus. The hall, called WAPOGA Hall, Mayowa noted, was said to have been used during the 2007 West African Polytechnic Games and had since been abandoned. He recalled: “We are sleeping on makeshift beds covered with improvised mosquito nets. But sleeping under this condition is as good as sleeping in an open place. Apart from cold, it is a real hell with mosquitoes.” But to Bimpe, an ND II student at the Department of Banking and Finance, the situation is not a new thing on the campus, as she experienced similar fate while in ND I. According to her, she decided to live with her fate since securing accommodation outside the college is like courting another evil because of the violent nature of the college’s environment. While bemoaning their preCONTINUED ON PAGE 26

24 Education

TUESDAY, july 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

UNIJOS boosts research in phytomedicine Musa Pam

PTA, management agree on training of teachers Kayode Olanrewaju

Jos

etermined to foster a healthy town and gown relationship, especially with its host communities in line with its strategic plan, the University of Jos (UNIJOS) has developed a strong research in the area of health. The research was facilitated by the Faculties of Medical, Natural and Pharmaceutical Sciences in the areas of developing and sustaining quality research output through establishing collaborative partnerships and attracting external research funding. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai disclosed this during the Regional Conference of Africa Centre of Excellence in Phytomedicine Research and Development (ACEPRD) held at the Faculty of Law Auditorium of the university. According to Mafuyai, the science and postgraduate programmes as well as researches carried out in the university are geared towards industrial and commercial relevance, while taking into cognizance hands-on-training of students which are based on local needs and challenges of the society. The vice-chancellor said: “With the establishment of the Africa Centre of Excellence in Phytomedicine Research and Development in 2013, which was funded by the World Bank, the university has a new mandate to offer focused programmes in the diverse disciplines including Biomedical Sciences with a view to developing research capacity that will enhance academic and socio-economic growth and international competitiveness of Nigerian and African scientists at global level.” He noted that the aim of the conference is to showcase the capability of the university in phytomedicine research and development, saying: “It is our view that this centre will serve as a bridge that would link the government, scientists and industry together towards enhancing the acquisition of scientific knowledge, skills and expertise, which will translate into products and improve the quality of life and economic growth of the country.” Mafuyai, however, added that the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences was reputed for phytomedicine and it has contributed in no small measure in putting the university in the world map of academic excellence in that field.

he Parent Teachers Association of Masterpiece School, Akera, Agbodo, Ogun State, has challenged the school management on the need for training and retraining of the teachers. This was as the Proprietor/Headteacher of the school, Mr. Babatunde Atambala restated commitment to provide qualitative education that would equip the pupils in all spheres of their development for the challenges of the 21st Century. These were part of the thrust of the school’s Parent Teachers Association (PTA) meeting, which was held last week on the school premises. The head-teacher, who in his report told the parents that the school had acquired new sets of computer system with Internet facilities, to boost the pupils’ Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills, however stressed that the school would do everything within its powers to enhance quality teaching and learning.

While adding that the school has also provided a mini-clinic with qualified nurses to take care of the pupils’ health needs, Atambala said the school’s time-table has been restructured for pupils to have more practical computer lessons. On the academic performance of the school, the head-teacher noted that the pupils have been doing well in the National Common Entrance into the Federal Government Colleges in the last three years, since it began to present candidates for the examination. This was even as he wondered how some of the parents refused to allow their children or wards to write the examination; for fear of allowing their children to go to the boarding house. His words: “We are proud of our old pupils who are in various secondary schools. We are happy about what we are hearing about their performance. I want to appeal to our parents to allow and encourage their children to take the common entrance.” Atambala, who noted that proper training, upbringing and education of the children should be the collective efforts of the school and parents, urged the parents to always come up with suggestions that would move their children’s education and school forward. “When you demanded for suggestion boxes in our two schools, we provided them, but we have able to receive only one suggestion since. This is not good enough, as you (parents) should come with suggestions that will put us on our toes on how to better improve the education and well-being of our pupils,” he said. The head-teacher frowned at how some parents bring their children late to school every morning, while some leave their children in school till late in the evening, saying such practice should stop as pupils who come to school late always miss one thing or the other. On the school buses, he said the management was doing everything to ensure that the buses are in good condition so as to take the pupils to and from school without hitches. The school, he said had concluded plans to introduce summer tour programme, which will take Atambala the pupils to South Africa, Ghana and the

United States, while adding that the school had also commenced adult class for literate men and women in the community, who desired to learn how to read and write. Besides, he hinted that the school had also introduced handiwork and crafts to train pupils in bead making, weaving and other handicrafts. Atambala, who informed the parents that the school’s maiden interhouse sports will hold next session, urged parents, who have not registered their children for the Indomie Fan Club to do so, even as he explained that many opportunities are open to pupils who registered as members. To this end, he pointed out that plans were under way to introduce Boys Brigade, Girls’ Society, as well as literary and debating society in order to develop the pupils’ innate abilities. In his response, one of the parents, Mr. Ibrahim Akintoye, who expressed satisfaction over the performance of their wards and the quality of education offered in the school, spoke on the need for the school to organise regular retraining programmes for the teachers. But, the head-teacher noted such training was already being facilitated, even as he recalled: “We are regularly retraining our teachers. Recently, we trained them on Montessori system, which was facilitated by one of our parents and I want to assure you that such training will be sustained since we realise that retraining of teachers is an ongoing thing and not a one-off thing.” But, one of the parents expressed displeasure over the poor performance of his child in Mathematics, which she attributed to poor teaching method by the teacher. Meanwhile, the parents appealed to the school management to look into the safety of the pupils as they cross the main road to the school. This, the head-teacher noted that the school was already doing through security men positioned at the gates of the two schools to assist the pupils and their parents by controlling vehicular movement for them to cross the road safely. “We have security men who are at hand to ensure the safety of our pupils which is a priority to us,” Atambala said. However, on the summer tour, the parents urged the management to give them enough notice ahead of the tour in order for them to prepare adequately.

FUTA mourns Ilemobade, ex-VC, visits family T

The late Ilemobade

he management, staff and the entire Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) community, are still mourning the late Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Albert Ilemobade, who was gruesomely murdered by two of his domestic staff. Leading the university management team on a condolence visit to the family of the late former vice-chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, described the late

Ilemobade as the patriarch of FUTA. The FUTA delegation, which included other principal officers of the institution, was received by the widow of the deceased and his children. Daramola, who noted that FUTA has lost a patriarch, whose immense contributions and sacrifice to the development of the institution will remain ever green in the history of the university, said Prof. Ilemobade, while in office and

even after leaving office showed keen interest in the development of FUTA by always identifying with its aspirations. According to him, the late don will be sorely missed for his invaluable counsel and contributions as an elder statesman and a renowned academic with enviable track record in university administration. Daramola wrote in the condolence register: “The last few days have been very terrible for us at the Federal University of

Technology, Akure. This is particularly so given the fact that our former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ilemobade was in the university less than 24 hours before his death to grace a wedding ceremony. The news of his kidnap and eventual death under a most gruesome manner has left us all in shock and grief. On behalf of the Governing Council, staff and students of FUTA, we say adieu our daddy. May your gentle soul rest in peace in Jesus Name.”

Education 25

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, july 7, 2015

Kayode Olanrewaju

software programming system, “software language coding skills,” which is aimed at bringing Information Technology (IT) and computer education to the doorstep of school children between eight and 24 years old is being championed by SAP Africa. No fewer than 20,000 children will benefit from the project that is tailored towards IT skills development in 11 African countries - South Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia – and which is in its pilot phase. The inaugural launch of the Africa Coding Week (ACW) pilot phase, a flagship of the corporate social responsibility initiative of SAP, took place on June 2 in Johannesburg, South Africa, with a Celebrity Charity Software Coding Challenge. While addressing journalists during the software coding pilot project at Ojodu Grammar School, Ojodu, Lagos, last week, the President of SAP for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mr. Franck Cohen, said the pilot phase was part of the run-up to the Africa Code Week (ACW) launch in October, this year. Under the software coding pilot stage, about 100 school pupils between eight and 11 years are expected to be equipped

SAP Africa equips 20,000 pupils with coding skills with software coding skills in a fun-filled, hands-on workshop, which has already been facilitated by SAP in the school. The Africa Code Week project is being driven by SAP in partnership with Simplon from France, the Galway Education Centre from Ireland and the Cape Town Science Centre. Part of its objectives, is to empower youth, teachers and parents with the language of software programming using a freely available Scratch system. He said SAP is committed to helping Africa’s youth to become skillful in software coding, which Cohen described as the language of the digital age. “With the Africa Code Week initiative, we hope to enable Africa’s youth to further contribute to the continent’s success in this digital age,” Cohen added, stressing that SAP is investing over half of a billion Dollars in IT to improve the life of the people globally. Cohen, who expressed strong belief in education for economic and technological emancipation of the people, pointed out the need for Africans to acquire

skills in IT for digitalization. “The world is going digital. In the next 10 years there will cars that will be automated-driven. The people who are not keying to the digital economy will be left behind,” he added. Cohen, who restates that coding is not merely about a language, but apparently introduced by SAP to improve people’s lives, expressed regret that Indians come to Nigeria to take up employment when Nigerians are not unemployed, tracing this to the level of IT compliance of the Indians. His words: “SAP is proud to be part of the Africa Code Week programme, which aims to pro-

vide African youth with the critical skills required for today’s challenging job market. The programme aligns perfectly with the SAP Africa’s skills for Africa initiative which promotes skills development and job creation across the continent. “It will also contribute to Africa becoming a future net exporter of technology skills to the rest of the world. Preparing the ground for Africa Code Week is critical and these software pilot projects are giving us a clear picture of best-practices to adopt across other African countries as the project gains momentum.” Based on a new Harbour

Research study, he said it has been revealed that while 65 per cent of today’s technology applications generate revenue, the figure will rise to 80 per cent by 2018. Cohen noted that although smart homes, wearables and sports markets today lead in application development, the future growth would come from the healthcare and automotive sectors, as well as smart cities. “Software coding is everywhere and the youth of today have to be empowered with coding skills,” he said, stressing that software coding is growing in popularity and computer literacy is becoming a significant driver in establishing future generations in the workplace. However, Mr. Kudzai Dhana, Managing Director SAP for West Africa and Mr. Ademola Ajayi, Facilitator in Nigeria, expressed worry that less than one per cent of African children leave school with basic coding skills.

Ekiti monarch, Babalola seek end to Ado Poly crisis

he Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) has attributed the incessant industrial crises in the nation’s tertiary institutions mainly to poor funding by the state and federal government. Babalola, a legal icon, who accused government for lacking the political will to do the right thing by funding higher education properly, disclosed this while receiving members of the Inter-Ministerial FactFinding/Reconciliation Committee raised by the Minister of Education on the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, who visited him in his office. While describing the panel, which had since last week begun its assignment at the polytechnic, the legal luminary noted that the Minister meant well in reconciling the warring parties involved in the crisis rocking the polytechnic. Going by the caliber of members of the committee, Babalola expressed optimism that the outcome of the fact-finding panel to the polytechnic would bring about the expected peace and stability. While advising the committee on the need to widen the scope of its investigations, he wondered that no government in the country ever had the political will to wholeheartedly fund education based on the UNESCO standard. According to Babalola, poor funding had always triggeredoff most of the industrial crises rocking the education sector in

the country. The Chairman of the committee, Mrs. H.U. Abdulahi, who spoke through the CoChairman, Mr. Olu Lipede said that the primary objective of the visit was to seek Babalola’s wisdom, being a major stakeholder and a father-figure to the polytechnic. “This is why it has become expedient to learn from your (Babalola) wealth of experience in this regard,” they said. The chairman, however, promised that the committee’s report would be fair to all the parties concerned as the thrust of its mandate is fact-finding with a view to ensuring peaceful co-existence and stability in the polytechnic. In a similar courtesy visit to the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, the monarch said it would be the delight of the entire Ewi-in-Council and the Ado-Ekiti community for peace to return the polytechnic.

Babalola

L-R: Cohen, Mrs.Kolawole and Dhana at the briefing

Maltina Teacher of the Year entries extended

he deadline for submission of entries for the maiden edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year Award, instituted by the Nigerian Breweries Plc, has been extended till July 17. The award was launched last month by the company under the auspices of the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. According to the Corporate Affairs Adviser of the com-

pany, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, the move has become necessary to avail every qualified teacher to compete for the coveted prize worth N50 million. “We have extended deadline for the submission of entries for Maltina Teacher of the Year because of the overwhelming appeal by teachers across the country who pleaded for the extension. This initiative is for teachers, we believe it is

just fair for us to take their interest into consideration. As a company, we always listen and take the voice of the people into consideration in our decision making process,” he said. This was even as he said that the company has recorded a deluge of entries as teachers rushed to meet the earlier deadline, as entries for the award draws to a close.

Church to sharpen pupils’ skills etermined to improve Friday, July 31 at the church D the performance of stu- auditorium, Ikeja, Lagos. dents and stimulate their The holiday camp, the

the key learning deliverables would include topics that cut across the senior secondary school syllabus. It also pointed out that there will be ‘Focus Group Fellowship’ activities that will address issues that directly affect teenagers during the camp. According to Pastor Ephraim Osunde, Assistant Pastor in charge of Lagos Province 27, the programme’s aimed at simplifying Mathematics techniques for the students and addressing the numerous challenges faced by students in solving Mathematics-related problems.

interest especially in the study of Mathematics, a core school subject, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Kings Court Parish, Ikeja has unfolded plans to organise a Mathematics Holiday Boot Camp for students in Senior School (SS) during this year’s long vacation. The camp, according to the organisers, will take place between Monday, July 20, and

church said would be two sessions – morning and afternoon, while each session will consist of two classes. Besides, the church explained that while some of the facilitators will come from the United Kingdom, a mentor will be assigned to each class to facilitate the learning engagements. The facilitators, the church noted were products of RCCG Ikeja youth group, adding that

26 Education

TUESDAY, july 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Our ordeal, by YABATECH students C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 3

dicament, she wondered why the management refused to open the hostels for almost a semester, under the guise of renovating the facilities. Meanwhile, a parent, Mr. Kehinde Agbeloba, who lives close to the college, accused some members of the management of allegedly delaying the allocation of bed spaces because some of them own properties within the school environment which they want the students to occupy before allocating the hostels. Agbeloba said: “They intentionally frustrate the students because what they want is that the private apartments would be occupied by the students at high cost before the hostels, which are far cheaper, are opened.” But, in a swift reaction, the college’s spokesman, Dr. Charles Oni described such allegation as baseless, unfounded and frivolous, saying the college had consistently barred students from staying in the lecture halls beyond 7pm during the week and at weekends. According to him, the college had not reopened the hostels because they were undergoing renovation, and since the management did not want the academic calendar to be altered it had to open the college for academic activities while the rehabilitation work continued. Corroborating Oni’s position, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Mr. Bayo Raheem, told New Telegraph that it was unfortunate that the matter had degenerated to that level, saying it was not the practice of the college to delay the allocation of the few available accommodation spaces to the students. He explained: “Let me begin by telling you that the entire school has a total of 3,500 bed spaces in the six hostels - Akata, Moshood Abiola, Augustus Aikhomu, New Female Hall, New Male Hostel and the postgraduate hostel - with over 9,000 full-time students who are entitled to accommodation on campus. “Despite the huge population, the college frowns at “squatting or sharing” the spaces with illegal occupants. But such is the practice among the students with a bed space meant for one student being occupied by more than three. Through this, the facilities are overstretched and they are expected to be put in good shape before the commencement of every new session. “Unfortunately, this ses-

sion, the contractor who won the bid for the renovation of the hostels died suddenly and there was the need to go through a fresh process to appoint another one. That was the reason for the delay in the hostels’ allocation” Raheem, who pointed out that the security of the students, was paramount to the management, however, noted that everything was being done to put in place adequate security measures before the hostels are reopened. “The management has purchased new water tanks to replace the damaged ones and that is to tell you how committed the college is to the welfare of the students. The website portal had been opened now and they could apply for their accommodation which is allocated based on first come first served,” he stressed. According to the dean, each bed space is sold for N14,000, while the cost of the postgraduate hostel is a bit high. But the students faulted Raheem’s claim, accusing the management of lack of sincerity and insensitivity to their plight. “The hostels are allocated to the people they know, or those who can buy their way,” they added, saying the campus is not only porous, but also insecure. A shop owner on the campus, who craved anonymity, told New Telegraph that there is free entry and exit from the campus with no security check. “Cars are not checked by the security men and no tally is given to drivers as it is the practice in other institutions,” the source added. They, however, wondered why the college, which allocates N5 million monthly to the office of the Rector, Dr. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, as security vote could face such accommodation and security challenge. The college’s Bursar, Mr. Olu Ibirogba, who had since 2013 been suspended, had in a petition addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari accused the rector, of engaging in corrupt practices. In the petition dated June 10, 2015, and entitled: “Large Scale Stealing and Victimisation by YABATECH Authorities: Appeal for Intervention so that we are not silenced,” alleged that under Dr. Ladipo’s watch, the polytechnic has lost nothing less than N2 billion through corruption since 2009, when she assumed office. The petition reads in part; “The Governing Council approved N5 million monthly as security vote to the Rector,

Another set of students in a classroom

Dr. Kudirat Ladipo, which is paid directly to her personal account every month. This is besides the institution’s organic security staff (about 150 personnel), six outsourced security companies, as well as monthly payment of motivational allowances to the Sabo Police Station and DSS staff at Sabo.” However, in his response to the allegations, the college’s spokesman, Oni, described Ibirogba as an agent of devil who is all out to tarnish the im-

age of the rector, who he said had transformed the 68-yearold college. He said the N5 million monthly security vote, is no longer strange, in view of the peculiarity of the college’s environment, especially concerning the security threats constituted by those he described as the “Fadeyi Boys,” “Jibowu Boys” and “Abule Oja Boys,” which he said, informed the decision of the Council to approve the money. Oni said: “The money they

are talking about is duly approved by the Governing Council of the college, and I must say that almost all the institutions the petition was addressed, had exonerated the management of any financial impropriety. “The suspended bursar, who is making the allegations, is involved in dirty deals and we have a copy of the petition against him. These matters are already in court and I can tell you that we will be vindicated at the end of the day.”

The pupils during the cultural display

owards developing a total child and enhancing Nigerian history and culture, especially among the younger ones, the pupils of ChildVille Schools, Ogudu, Lagos, publicly presented Agho Obaseki, a stage play on the history of Benin Kingdom. The play, written by Don Pedro and directed by Gboyega Jerome, was acted by the school’s drama group. Agbo Obaseki, the ambitious man of Benin Kingdom had power dumped at his door step by the British Colonial masters after the fall of Benin in 1897, and Oba Ovonramwen N’Ogbaisi exiled to Calabar. The emergence of Agbo Obaseki was in total disregard for the seniority of the Edo traditional hierarchy. Speaking during the stage play held at Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, the

Childville School harps on culture, value system Administrator of schools, Mrs. Ajijola Alokolaro wondered how many Nigerian children are oblivion of history of their people. She noted that staging such play that is rich in Nigerian history and culture is part of the school’s strategy of revising the ugly trend. Her words: “History and culture of a people are too important elements to be handled with levity or else such people will lack a direction. It is unfortunate that the young generation of Nigerian children knows so much about the history and culture of the western world, but has a very shallow knowledge of the history and culture of their

fatherland, which is a misnomer. “Beyond equipping our students with acting and stage skills, staging of the play is also directed at ensuring that students of Childville School have a deep sense of Nigeria history and its diverse culture and value system.” Alokolaro, who stressed that there was no nation or people that could preserve its culture without a deliberate action, however pointed out that schools should take active part in such direction, even as the administrator added that the school was really excited at advancing and preserving the nation’s historical and cultural heritage.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, june 30, 2015

Campus

Anti-corruption

Sensitisation

ICPC inaugurates anti-corruption groups, sensitises students

Group sensitises students on global climate change

Obiano’s wife pledges to improve school facilities Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

he wife of the Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, has pledged her determination to support the state’s education sector through improved facilities, as part of moves to end the shortage of infrastructure facing the schools. This was as she restated the plan of the state government, to make Anambra State the hub of intellectuals who will be solution providers to the nation’s numerous challenges. Mrs. Obiano disclosed this during the launching of a N150 million building of the Nwafor Orizu College of Education (NOCEN) Demonstration Secondary School (CDSS), Nsugbe. Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Education, Lady Pat Ofiah, the wife of the governor, expressed satisfaction over what she described as massive progress at the college. Mrs. Obiano, who reiterated the administration’s strides towards the development of education, pointed out that the government is currently working on infrastructure, welfare of the teachers and in ensuring that the students are adequately taught. Education, according to her, is one of the major focuses of the economic blueprint of the present administration.

Obiano

Sunny Ibeh Jnr UNIBEN

t was a celebration galore last week at the Department of History, University of Benin (UNIBEN) as the 300-Level undergraduates of the department rolled out the drums in celebration of the birthday of their colleagues, who were born in June. The birthday, which was marked amid frenzy and took place at the Faculty of Arts lecture theatre, was flagged-off with a praise worship and prayer session to God for protecting the celebrants. Describing the event as memorable, the Course Representative, Iroegbu Sun-

UNIZIK students in the mood of prayer

44 UNIZIK students renounce cult membership Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

ike the proverbial parable of the prodigal son in the Holy Bible, some 44 students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, who are cultists, last week renounced membership of their cult groups. Their renunciation took place during the UNIZIK cult renunciation ceremony organised by the management of the institution, held at the university’s convocation arena. The event, according to the Director of Information and Public Relations for the university, Dr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, was organised to rededicate the institution, the members of staff and students to the Almighty God. The ceremony, which was the second of its kind in the annals of the university, attracted the workers and students, as well as religious leaders within and outside the institution. Principal officers of the institution at the event include the Vice-Chancel-

lor, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku and the wife, Dr. Gladys Ahaneku; the Deputy ViceChancellor (Academics), Prof. Charles Esimone; his counterpart in charge of Administration, Prof. Onyeyili; the Registrar, Mr. C.Okeke and Dean, Students’ Affairs, Prof. Ken Nwogu. In his words of exhortation, Reverend Father Paul Obayi said cultism is full of deceit, and which in any way added no value to the lives of the members. The cleric, who disclosed that he was once an occultist before he was called by God, lamented that as a cultist, one is bonded, imprisoned and his or her freedom restricted. While frowning at the rate at which Nigerian youth go into cultism, Obayi said: “It is an act of foolishness for anyone to join cultism. There is no gain in cultism because it is utterly embedded in deception.” He advised the students to desist from cultism and face their primary assignment in the university, which he stressed was to read and pass with good grades in order to become better and useful citizens in the society. “To this end, I urged you (students) to return to God, as He is the giver of

Students celebrate colleagues’ birthday day David, said the birthday bash was organised by the students to honour their classmates and foster unity among them. To add colour to the celebration was one of the organisers, Natasha Awele, who is fondly called Mama Natash by her admirers, who invited the students, one after the other to give toasts about the celebrants. While giving their toast, the students described the celebrants as hard working, diligent, intelligent, friendly and God fearing, even as they thanked the Almighty for sparing their lives. The event was climax with the cutting of the birthday cake by the celebrants, who

were joined by other students, as they sang the “Happy birthday songs” to the admiration of the celebrants. The celebrants are Chiamaka Anadu, Iroegbu David, Onose Emmanuel, Obiora Daniel, Celestine Okpalaugo and Glory Ugonma. The President of the department, Samson Chika, in a chat with Telegraph Campus, however, explained that the event was organised in order to keep the flame of unity and love burning among the students, as well as demonstrate their love and respect for the celebrants, whom he describe as the architects of their successes.

wisdom and life,” Obayi added. The high point of the ceremony was a special deliverance session of the 44 students comprising males and females by the officiating priests, Reverend Father Obayi, who was assisted by Reverend Fathers Mario- David Dibie and Bonachristus Umeogu. During the session, no fewer than 44 students who are members of one cult group or the other came out to renounce their membership under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The vice-chancellor, in his remarks, described the event as a spiritual irrigation geared towards total submission of the workers and students of the institution to God. Ahaneku, who was overwhelmed at the number of those that renounced cultism as well as the turnout of members of the university community at the event, thanked them for allowing God take control of their lives. His words: “We need God to give us the enabling power to take control in our society. Because we have submitted ourselves to Almighty. God has prepared us for the journey ahead. Be assured that the university management is here to protect your interest towards achieving the best degrees with which you can contribute to the development of the Nigerian society. “What we have done today is to submit to God and it will be captured in the history of the university as we train you not only in learning but also in character. I want to express optimism that the contact from God has touched the lives of all the students in the university.” According to the Chairman, organising committee and deputy vice-chancellor (Academics), Prof. Esimone, the event is part of the management’s efforts to rid UNIZIK of all forms of cult activities with a view to enthroning discipline and responsive studentship.

28 Education | Campus

Enforce law against noise pollution, society tasks FG Oladele Oge UNN

TUESDAY, july 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NASRDA, CBSS to hold summer school on astronomy

f the President of Acoustical Society of Nigeria (ASON), Dr. Joy Oluchi Uguru has her way, government at all levels should join hands with the agency and others saddled with the responsibility of ensuring free-environmental noise society. According to her, this has become imperative if a free noise society is to be achieved, and for higher institutions of learning to win the war against noise polution. Dr. Uguru made the call during the three-day conference, organised by the association at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). The conference, which was the third in its series since establishment of the society, was declared open by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Administration, Prof. Edwin Igbokwe, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba. The theme of the conference, which took place at the Continuing Education Centre of the institution, was: “Sound, Politics and Environment.” While declaring open the talk-shop, the vice-chancellor lauded the organisation, as well as its president for her doggedness in taking the fight against noise pollution to primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutions and rural communities. This, Ozumba explained would go a long way in increasing the quality health education as encapsulated in the agenda of the organisation. The vice-chancellor, who recalled how in the good old days how people who studied in the villages achieved well academically due to less noise distraction, regretted that part of the problems caused by noise pollution today is poor reading culture of the people. He, therefore, blamed this on the nonchalant attitude of the people towards environmental consciousness and noise pollution. Ozumba described the conference as effort to reduce the high rate of deaf as well as engender opportunity of long life for the people particularly those living in major cities. According to Dr. Uguru, part of the major aims of the society are to address social and health problems facing the people through relevant research information, and proffer technical solutions to environmental noise challenges, which require the efforts of scientists and engineers with considerable knowledge of acoustics.

Ogechukwu

Opara

Oladele Oge UNN

ll arrangements have been concluded by Centre for Basic Space Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State, to organise a world-wide international special astronomy summer school

(SASS) 2015 for young astronomers. The summer school, the centre said, was designed to build a critical mass of astronomers among undergraduate science and engineering students, teachers and post-graduate students as well as researchers in African universities and other higher institutions of learning across the world. Tthe Head, Public Relations for the

centre, Mr. Wali Chigozie, disclosed that the programme was the first of its kind in the country, adding that it is scheduled to hold between July 13 and 18. He said the project was being organised in collaboration with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Abuja; Canadia Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, (CITA); Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Canada and IAUOffice of Astronomy for Development in Cape Town, South Africa. Wali further explained that the major objective of the summer school is to promote intellectualism among young astronomers and researchers in the area of space research in young people. To this end, he added that the astronomers and space science experts, including Prof. Fidelix Opara and Professor Emeritus Pius Okeke, among others, are set to receive the international participants on behalf of the centre. Other experts expected to attend the summer school include the representatives of the federal and state Ministries of Science and Technology; DirectorGeneral of NASRDA, Prof. Sheidu Mohammed. As part of run-up to the event, the centre last December organised a twoweek international UAV Software the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), training and workshop, the first to be introduced by the centre for security agencies as a means of tackling the high rate of insecurity facing the country.

Ogbuagu (middle) and flanked by Arua (3rd right) and other management team of the college at the event.

Emeka Onwudinjo UNIZIK

s part of its efforts towards fighting corruption in the various institutions of higher learning in the country, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), last week inaugurated and sensitised the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) and the Students Anti-Corruption Vanguard (SAV) of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State. While addressing the members of staff and students of the college on responsibilities of ICPC, Mr. Udonsi Arua, a lawyer and Head of ICPC Enugu Zonal Office, enjoined members of the groups to be epitome of probity, dedication and painstaking in the discharge of their duties. Arua, however, highlighted the ICPC Act, and the efforts of the antigraft agency in combating corruption,

ICPC inaugurates anti-corruption groups, sensitises students even as he elaborated on the roles and status of the group in tackling corruption in the society. His words: “For us to get the society right, we must get the man right, and we have to start from the top, to the middle and finally to the least. This is the only way to combat corruption in the country.” The Provost, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu, while welcoming the visitors expressed optimism that the inauguration and sensitisation programme would bring about positive change to the college and the country at large. Ogbuagu, who lauded the ICPC officials for what he described as their unrelenting efforts in ensuring a corruption-free country, said: “I congratulate all nominees of the ACTU of the Federal College of Education

(Technical) Umunze branch for being found worthy of their nomination into the body. We believe strongly that your nomination was a result of your transparent and impeccable track records. It is our hope that the transparency that earned you this elevated position will be put into effective use in order to bring about a positive change in the college and the country at large.” According to the provost, ACTU was introduced in the college in 2006 and since then had been functioning effectively. While noting that the tenure of the first batch of the nominees had since expired in 2004, Ogbuagu added that a new committee which was constituted was being inaugurated at the ceremony to officially set it to work.

Education | Campus 29

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, july 7, 2015

Group sensitises students on global climate change Hameed Muritala and Olasupo Abideen UNILORIN

s part of activities aimed at raising awareness about global climate crisis and reducing its effects, the Plant-for-the-Planet Children’s Initiative of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has sensitised some school children in Ilorin, on the need to be environment conscious. The sensitisation exercise, which was conducted at a two-day training workshop for schools was held last week at the university’s auditorium basement. No fewer than 100 primary and secondary school students took part in the workshop, during which the participants were enlightened about the causes, effects and solutions to climate crisis facing the world. The students were also sensitised on the importance of tree planting in their environment. The facilitators at the training were Dr. Usman Raheem of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management and Dr. Fola Babalola, a lecturer at the Department of Forest Resources Management of the university.

FUTA’s 70th inaugural lecture holds today Oladele Oge UNN

he 70th inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Ondo State will hold on July 7. The lecture, which will take place at the university’s new auditorium, will be delivered by a renowned Professor of Physics Space Science, Prof. Babatunde Rabiu Akeem. The theme of the lecture is: “Terrestrials and Extra Terrestrials: Divine Nexus for Man’s Comfort.” According to the Registrar of the institution, Dr. M.O Ajayi, the lecture, which will be chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola will assist, students, staff, government and non-governmental agencies to address numerous challenges facing their organisations in various forms.

In his presentation, Raheem explained that the earth system consists of the air, water, life, land and ice, stressing that an injury to any of these components would cause injury to the other parts. He, however, noted that climate change was caused largely by the amount of carbon emission into the air through vehicles, airplanes, power plants, telecommunica-

tion masts and manufacturing companies. The don warned that the earth would be unsafe for human beings and animals if adequate measures were not taken to curb the menace of climate change that is occasioned by the melting glaciers and rising oceans. The environmentalist, however, identified massive tree planting as the easiest and cheapest

solution to curb climate change, adding that trees have the ability to absorb the carbon dioxide being put into the atmosphere by human activities. Similarly, in his paper, Babalola lamented that man through its activities over the years have added more greenhouse gases into the air, thus making the atmosphere thicker and which has caused the temperature to rise.

One of the pupils being trained on tree planting

30 Education

TUESDAY, july 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Olashore School ranked high in Africa

he Africa Brands Review, an Integrated Marketing Service Company in Africa, has ranked Olashore International School (OIS), Iloko, Ilesha, Osun State, among the top 10 private secondary schools in the country, and one of the best international schools in Africa. The rating, according to the company, was based on the school’s performance in the 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). While breaking the cheering news during the 17th valedictory ceremony of the school, which took place last week, the management said the company surveyed the performance of secondary schools across the country and rated the top 1,000 schools in Nigeria. The brochure of the Africa Top 1,000 School Award, which was released last month, the company explained, would be distributed to embassies of various Africa countries, libraries of higher institutions and blue chip companies, while free copies would be given to all participating schools in Africa. The award plague presented to Olashore School based on standard criteria reads: “2015 Africa Top Schools Award Platinum Category.” According to the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the school, Prince Bimbo Olashore, expressed delight that being honoured with the Platinum Category Award based on standard criteria, and the top 10 award based on WASSCE results, further gives credence and validation to the efforts of the staff and students in taking the school

to its zenith of academic heights. His words: “When we do things here, we do not do them for the purpose of winning awards, but the awards are validation of some of the things we stand for. We believe in academic excellence, which is the bedrock of what the school stands for. About 99.8 per cent of our students obtained ‘Cs’, while about 92 per cent obtained ‘As’ and ‘Bs’in their examinations. By the time we add other activities such as music, drama, discipline, leadership and the likes, people will be proud of us. We have never applied for any award; they wrote us letters for such awards. “Initially, we were being skeptical, until they showed us the results and proofs, so we agreed with them at least it was from an official source. We emerged one of the best international schools in Africa, but before qualifying for this, we first qualified as one of the top ten schools in Nigeria with seventh position to be specific. Being one of the top ten schools among 11,000 schools that sat for the WASSCE gives value to our certificates.” Buttressing the position of the Chairman of Board of Trustees, the Principal, Mr. Derek Smith pointed out that “we have been recognized as one of the top 10 schools in Nigeria, and this reminds us of our position and how academically successful we are. We need to let everyone know that we do a lot in Olashore School and which has continued to stand us out. Indeed, if you want sustained academic and all round education, Olashore International School has it”.

Cross-section of pupils during the graduation ceremony

UNESCO names Okojie advisory committee member Yekeen Nurudeen

Abuja

he United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has appointed the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr Victoria Okojie as a member of the International Advisory Committee of the Memory of the World Programme. UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme is an international initiative launched to safeguard the documentary heritage of

humanity against collective amnesia, neglect, the ravages of time and climatic conditions, and willful and deliberate destruction. The programme is administered by a body known as the International Advisory Committee (IAC) whose 14 members are appointed by the UNESCO Director-General. Any member to be selected into IAC should be an authority in the field of safeguarding of documentary heritage, taking into account a fair geographical representation. The appointment was conveyed to Dr Okojie via

an e-mail dated June 22 and signed by Iskra Panevska of the UNESCO Memory of the World Knowledge Societies Division, Communications and Information Sector. The mail reads in part: “The Director General of UNESCO proceeds with the renewal of International Advisory Committee of the Memory of the World Programme whose objectives are to facilitate preservation of and access to the world’s documentary heritage, as well as increase awareness worldwide of the existence and significance of documentary heritage.”

EDUPEACE

with Mahfouz A. Adedimeji (08066372516, sms only)  Dr Adedimeji is a Senior Lecturer and Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin

Towards non-violent communication

ecently, Nigerians and the rest of the world were subjected to the theatre of the absurd through the fight that broke out among our elected leaders in the National Assembly. To say that the brawl was shameful is to state the obvious. As we have in all cases of physical attack, the root of all conflicts is communication failure. Rather than communicate effectively, we often allow our emotions to take the best part of us and we behave rather childishly, like the “honourable” members of parliament who tore each other’s clothes. Thought conflict is normal, a core component of life that we cannot do away with, we can minimise it and maintain good relationships through imbibing nonviolent communication. In their “A Dictionary of Communication and Media Studies” (1993 p. 169) J. Watson and A. Hill quote something from Simeon Potter which I have often found spot on. According to Potter, “Men frequently find themselves at cross-purposes with one another because they persist in using words in different senses. Their long arguments emit more heat than light because their conception of the point of issue, whether Marxism, democracy, capitalism, the good life, Western civilization, culture, art, internationalism, freedom of the individual, equality of opportunity, redistribution of wealth, social security, progress or what not, are by no means identical. From heedless sloth, or sheer lack of intelligence, men do not trouble to clarify their conceptions.” There are many types of communication but the one that our leaders, as well as the rest of us, need to cultivate is nonviolent communication. We often communicate to destroy or break, rather than to construct or build. As a concept, Nonviolent Communication, otherwise known as Compassionate Communication or Collaborative Communication, is a communication process developed by Marshall Rosenberg as part of his search for a way to disseminate peacemaking skills. It is designed to improve compassionate connection among people and it consists of three components, which are self-empathy (deep and compassionate awareness of one’s own inner experience), empathy (listening to another with deep compassion) and honest self-expression (expressing oneself authentically in such a way that one is likely to inspire compassion in others). Nonviolent communication is an offshoot of the philosophy of nonviolence espoused by the well-known Mahatma Gandhi. As a practical process rooted in Gandhi’s philosophy of “ahimsa”, defined as “the overflowing love

It requires good education to adopt nonviolent communication as a philosophy that arises when an ill-will, anger and hate have subsided from the heart”, the aim of nonviolent communication is to develop a restorative, “partnership” paradigm and mutual respect, rather than a retributive, fear-based “domination” paradigm. The philosophy of nonviolent communication is this: “All human beings have the capacity for compassion and only resort to violence or behaviour that harms others when they don’t recognise more effective strategies for meeting needs.” As an all-encompassing phenomenon in human relations, nonviolent communication can be adopted and adapted as a set of values, a parenting technique, an educational method, a worldview and a way of life. There are ten assumptions of nonviolent communication, which are: • All human beings share the same needs. • Our world offers sufficient resources for meeting everyone’s basic needs. • All actions are attempts to meet needs: • Feelings point to needs being met or unmet • All human beings have the capacity for compassion • Human beings enjoy giving • Human beings meet needs through interdependent relationships • Human beings change • Choice is internal • The most direct path to peace is through self-connection It requires good education to adopt nonviolent communication as a philosophy. To make it work, effort should be made to avoid its threats. These threats to nonviolent communication include moralistic judgements (incorrectness or wrongness on the part of people who do not support our views) which manifest in blame, insults, putdowns, criticisms, antagonisms, accusations and so on. Other things we have to avoid so as not to threaten nonviolent communication are making comparisons, denying of responsibility and making demands from people. Lastly, what summarises nonviolent communication is provided by Charles F. Glassman who said, “The thinking at the epicenter of most human conflict: ‘I’m right; you’re wrong’”.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

Energy

A stormy period for energy

Property

Aviation

Economy, uncertainties slow down housing

Nigeria’s aviation: A work in progress

Business What's news

Lekki Scheme II: How land speculators hinder devt Activities of land speculators have slowed down the development of the Lekki Phase II scheme, New Telegraph has learnt.

p.32

Expert to Nigerian carriers: Consolidate or die For Nigerian airlines to remain in business, they must merge and consolidate their businesses, new President, Aviation Round Table (ART), Mr. Gabriel Gbenga Olowo, has said.

L-R: Relationship Manager, International Remittances, Personal & Business Banking (PBB), Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akintolu; Head, Franchise Collections, PBB, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Solomon Olufemi; Promo winners, Mr. Yinka Fagbohun and Mrs. Maureen Okonkwo, and Assistant Marketing Manager, Western Union, West Africa, Mr. Ebere Nwaolikpe, at the prize presentation ceremony of the Western Union’s 20th anniversary promo in Lagos.

BEMOAN

Nigerians lampoon PPPRA subsidy template Adeola Yusuf

p.32

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa

ioneer executive secretary of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulating Agency (PPPRA) led other stakeholders to come down hard on the agency for allegedly conniving with businessmen to pad its pricing template. They called for the dissolution of the agency’s board by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari over the alleged “heartlessness,” claiming that members are also businessmen with vested business interests to protect. Oluleye, who is the immediate past executive secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), picked holes in the payment of foreign

Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Stakeholders allege sleaze at PPPRA

Want agency’s board disbanded exchange rate differentials to the marketers. He and others spoke on the sideline of a round-table in Lagos. Emphasising that he never condoned the payment of foreign exchange rate differentials to the marketers during his days at the PPPRA, Oluleye argued that the payment of foreign exchange differentials could not have been in his budget when he was the boss of the PPPRA because it was wasteful. “I never condoned any form of exchange rate differential. People now talk about bloated template. I don’t want to talk

about it. I can talk of the one I did and the subsidy that period was less than N300 billion because of the lid on the amount that had to be paid. “So, a lot of money was saved that period and everybody seems to have some little money then. It was not enough but it was not going into private pockets,” he said. Other stakeholders also al-

N139.51

The Open Market Price of PMS on PPPRA’s pricing template

leged that the current template used by the PPPRA to determine the prices of imported petroleum products is manipulated to favour businessmen that have vested interests in fuel importation. They called on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to disband the board of the PPPRA as currently constituted, alleging that members are also businessmen with vested business interests to protect. An official of the Department of Petroleum Resources CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE May 2015.................................9% April 2015................................8.7% March 2015.............................8.5%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................12.57% Prime Lending Rate...........17.93% Maximum Lending Rate...26.83%

EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at July 3)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N231 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N350 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N246

l Foreign Reserves – $29.157bn as at 2/07/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at July 3)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N200.00 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N307.65 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N223.50

Business | News

Wheeler-dealers

Many bought the plots of land in order to resell them at higher prices in the near future Dayo Ayeyemi

ctivities of land speculators have slowed down the development of the Lekki Phase II scheme, New Telegraph has learnt. Lagos State government rolled out the scheme 19 years ago. It was gathered that many people willing to move to site to construct their houses have not been able to do so due to the snail’s pace of development in the neighbourhood. While some individuals have taken the bull by the horns with the construction of their houses, investigation by our correspondent showed that larger percentage of plots of land within the estate have been overgrown by weeds and left undeveloped. It was alleged that many of the landowners in the scheme did not have the intention to build, but bought the plots of land in order to resell at higher prices. This waiting game, experts said, has stunted the development of the estate despite the construction of Elegunshi

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lekki Scheme II: How land speculators hinder devt Housing Estate in the neighbourhood by the Lagos State Development and Property Company (LSDPC) to attract development. One of the subscribers, who identified himself simply as Ikemdimili, told our correspondent that land speculators were responsible for the low-pace of development in the estate. He blamed the scenario on wrong allocation, alleging that

most of the plots were allocated to civil servants who did not have any plan to develop the land other than to resell to make money. This, according to him, explains why majority of the owners have not bothered to perfect their Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O). According to him, many people bought the plots of land for speculative purpose, adding that they are waiting for lands

to appreciate before selling them. He pointed out that the price of a plot of land measuring approximately 900 square metres in Lekki Phase II was between N10 million and N12 million in January 2014 , but had increased to between N15 million and N20 millon in May 2015. It would be recalled that following the huge success recorded in the development of

Lekki Scheme 1, Lekki Peninsula Scheme II was designed by the Lagos State government in 1996 to satisfy the yearnings of people for plots of land to build personal houses in the highbrow Lekki axis. It has a land area of 514.53 hectares, comprising 3,095 residential plots, 64 commercial plots, 47 mixed development plots, 26 institutional plots and 17 recreational plots.

Stakeholders allege sleaze at PPPRA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 32

(DPR), who craved anonymity because the revelation should have nothing to do with his office, alleged that the PPPRA template was “padded.” “I am speaking personally and not as a government official, from insider information I have. The information at my disposal shows that the PPPRA template was ‘padded.’ If you look at the template, the template is bloated,” he said. “This is the truth because at every step we take in arriving at a price for the product, we pay for it. They have what they call retailers/dealer and transport margins. There is something allocated to them. When you start doing something like that, the Open Market Price will be high. So, whether it is actual price or not, it is questionable,” he added. He described the business of fuel importation under the subsidy regime as the “surest” form of business and queried a situation where government pays the marketers exchange rate differentials. Other discussants at the roundtable alligned their views with these submissions and called on government to review the template. Spokesperson for the PPPRA, Mr. Lanre Oladele neither picked calls nor responded to the Short Messaging System (SMS) seeking clarifications as at the time of filing this report.

L - R: Brand Manager, Star, Omotunde Adenusi; Sales Director, Hubert Eze, and Senior Brand Manager, Star, Chidike Oluaoha, at the launch of Star Triple X, at the Star Triple X Experience Centre, Polo Park Mall, Enugu.

JOINT OWNERSHIP

Olowo advocates joint ownership of airlines as well as listing of carriers on the Nigerian Stock Exchange Wole Shadare

or Nigerian airlines to remain in business, they must merge and consolidate their businesses, new President, Aviation Round Table (ART), Mr. Gabriel Gbenga Olowo, has said. He also urged African airlines to tow the same path or risk extinction by 2050. The expert disclosed these in Lagos during his first media press briefing as the new ART President. Olowo took over from Capt Dele Ore. He said that unless carriers in Nigeria and other African nations joined the global trend of mergers and consolidation, foreign carriers might take over the air transport sector of the continent in the future. Olowo predicted that by 2050, only 12 airlines would

Expert to Nigerian carriers: Consolidate or die Predicts 12 airlines’ll remain by 2050 remain in operations in the globe. He lamented that African carriers were still foot-dragging when their counterparts in Europe and United States had started embracing mergers and consolidation. The ART president stressed that Nigerian and African airlines risk serious trouble if they failed to embrace mergers and consolidation. He said that the combined annual revenue of the three biggest airlines in Africa, namely Kenyan Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and South African Airways, which he put at over $3 billion, is just about 35 per cent of the annual revenue of Emirates Airlines. Olowo lamented that all efforts to ensure mergers and consolidation among the continent’s carrier had failed in

the past. He, however, pointed out that mergers or consolidation could not be achieved by government fiat, noting that operators needed to see the merits in the global trend. Olowo, who is also President, Sabre Network West Africa, said it was unfortunate that the combined number of aircraft owned by Nigerian airlines was just 57, while South African Airways had over 67 in its fleet. He said that for the carriers to get out of the woods, government should encourage joint ownership of airlines by Nigerians and foreigners alike and also be encouraged to be listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) on the basis of participatory ownership, which should involve members of the public by buying shares in such airlines.

The ART president equally backed the planned merger of the Aviation Ministry with the Ministry of Transport, saying that merger of the two ministries will further give a clear focus and direction to the parastatals and departments as against the present situation where the parastatals are seen as serving two masters. This, he said, would help to have uniformity of policies and directional implementation, reduce corruption, inefficiency, waste in governance and allowance of global trend. His words: “Parastatals and agencies within the Ministry of Aviation should be strengthened and empowered by the various existing legislation for optimal performance. The six aviation agencies should be manned by professionals, a case of putting square pegs in square holes.”

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

FG, oil firms not foes over local content execution –NCDMB p.34

Energy Half Year Review

The first half of 2015 was very turbulent for the energy sector, reports ADEOLA YUSUF

A stormy period for energy

he first six months of 2015 had its highs and lows. Expectedly, this period, which also witnessed a major transition from one democratically elected government to another, had more lows than the highs for Nigeria’s energy sector. The fuel scarcity lingered, cooking gas scarcity worsened and the free-fall in power generation continued unabated. Bearish sale The disruptions rocking Nigeria’s crude sale at the international market got worse in the last six months with over 15 million barrels of oil from Nigeria’s shore unsold as at May 28, 2015. The crude contained in June-loading cargoes schedule was different from the over 45 million barrels from the schedule of July loading still waiting for buyers. Nigeria, Africa’s biggest crude exporter, depends largely on proceeds from crude to service over 85 per cent of her annual budget. The country has been suffering bearish sale at the international market following the cut in demand for Nigeria’s grade by Indian and China. India, which recently replaced the United States as Nigeria’s biggest oil market, cut its import of the country’s crude by 38 per cent last December, while China did not import a barrel from the country during the period, data obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) revealed. The Asian region, which is the major target market for many oil exporters, is a key market for Nigeria. Oil swap The oil swap deals and the contracts, known as Offshore Processing Agreements (OPAs) between the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of state-run NNPC and three oil trading companies Sahara Group, Aiteo and Duke Oil - the trading subsidiary of NNPC, generated heat during the half year. Many revelations have been unravelled, leading to the return of funds through importation of refined products. The Federal Government lost money through opaque contracts in which crude oil worth billions of dollar is given to traders in exchange for refined imports, mainly gasoline, international and domestic watchdogs have said. Already, an investigation had been launched to determine whether government had been short-changed by a state oil company scheme to swap crude for refined products. Nigeria’s anticorruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and domestic intelligence service, the Department of

A man working at an illegal refinery

State Security (DSS), began the investigation in May. “The crude was more than the value of the refined product imported,” a security source said. Expired contracts with Swiss trader Trafigura, Taleveras, Ontario Oil and Gas are also being examined, the sources said. A statement from the NNPC said that some of the oil firm’s officials were invited by the agencies “to shed light” on the contracts and that none had been detained or arrested as part of this investigation. The Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) had also said that there was a revenue loss of at least $600 million due to a discrepancy between the value of the crude and the products delivered. The figure was taken from its 2009-2011 and 2012 audits of the oil and gas industry, the latest was released this year. Rebuttal Some contract-holders have said that the discrepancies in value were reconciled. Sahara, which receives 90,000 barrels per day for processing through an agreement with the Societe Ivorienne de Raffinage (SIR), said it was invited to the EFCC and submitted information to show that its contract was justified. Duke Oil, an NNPC subsidiary, which has a 30,000 bpd contract, could also not be reached for comment. The listed phone numbers connected the NNPC, which also did not respond. A spokesman for Taleveras that held a crude swaps contract between 2011 and December 2014

via Duke Oil, said that the company did not owe any money and it would deliver gasoline until June this year to balance out what it received in crude. The spokesperson for Trafigura said that the EFCC had requested information about their swap contract and the company provided it. Trafigura held a Refined Products Exchange Agreement, or swap contract, between October 2010 and December 2014. “Despite Trafigura facing extensive logistical challenges in delivering refined product to Nigeria, delivery would typically precede the corresponding swap of crude oil by an order of weeks - sometimes months,” the spokesman said.

First half of 2015 had more lows than the highs for Nigeria’s energy sector

PwC report Although the forensic audit of the NNPC by PriceWaterhouseCooper (PwC) was commissioned last year, the audit was released in the first half of 2015. The audit, however, recommended an overhaul of how NNPC is run. The probe of the Corporation’s books was instituted last year after former CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said that the firm had withheld $20 billion in oil revenue from government coffers, jeopardising the country’s finances. The PwC audit, however, said that NNPC and its upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), should hand over $1.48 billion arising from unsubstantiated costs, duplicated subsidy claims and computation errors. “The NNPC’s model of opera-

tion must be urgently reviewed and restructured, as the current model, which has been in operation since the creation of the corporation, cannot be sustained,” the 200-page document noted. Meanwhile, an earlier one-page version of the report, which had been due out in September, was released last February. The development had caused consternation in a nation long accustomed to reports of grand graft. Also, the report added that the company, accused of corruption, actually overpaid the state by almost $750 million, but should still pay it an additional $1.5 billion. Meanwhile, details in the PwC audit said that NNPC actually overpaid by $0.74 billion in the period between January 2012 and July 2013, after remitting $50.81 billion to the federation account of the $69.34 billion it had received. The balance of $18.53 billion was accounted for through various operational costs, unremitted revenue by a subsidiary and gasoline and kerosene subsidies, it said. Sanusi had told a Senate committee in 2014 that the NNPC had received $67 billion and handed over only $47 billion. After the allegations, former President Goodluck Jonathan publicly dismissed the claim and replaced Sanusi, saying that the banker had mismanaged the CBN’s budget. Sanusi has since become the Emir of Kano, the country’s second-highest Islamic authority. The fuel scarcity and insufficient power supply during the CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Business | Energy

APPLAUSE NCDMB boss describes Nigerian content Act as a win-win for Nigeria, IOCs Adeola Yusuf

he Federal Government and international oil companies (IOCs) are not adversaries over the implementation of the local content act, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has said. Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Kentebe, said this when he hosted General Managers of Nigerian Content Divisions in the international oil companies (IOCs) who paid a courtesy visit at his office in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State. Achieving success in the implementation of Nigerian Content, a statement by the public affairs unit of the agency quoted Kentebe to have said, is of great benefit to every stakeholder in the oil and gas industry, including the IOCs. He explained that the Act was not being implemented in an oppositional manner whereby the Board and the operators viewed themselves as adversaries. Rather than adopt such a posture, he said that the Board decided, from inception in 2010, to collaborate with the IOCs and other operating and service industry stakeholders. He added that this model had proven very effective in stimulating compliance with provisions of the Act. He stressed that the developmental role of the Board was very critical and it involved close collaboration with stakeholders to CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

half year dragged into the inauguration week of the president. Change at DPR Penultimate week, President Muhammadu Buhari ratified the appointment of Mr. Mordecai Danteni Baba Ladan, as the new Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) “with immediate effect.” Ladan, a Deputy Director with DPR, has since taken over from Mr. George Osahon who failed to secure a reappointment following the expiration of his two-year renewable tenure on June 19, 2015. President Buhari took the onus of appointment and confirmation of DPR Director, a responsibility meant for the minister of petroleum resources, due to unavailability of a substantive minister. The appointment of Osahon, who had been in and out of government for decades to the DPR was trailed with controversy. He was retired twice while working in the NNPC. The DPR confirmed Ladan’s appointment in a memorandum published on its website. Subsidy For example, the report of a probe panel set up by the House of Representatives released in the first half of 2015 showed that the subsidy regime between 2009 and 2011, the period the report covers, was fraught with “endemic corruption and

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FG, oil firms not foes over local content execution –NCDMB develop in-country capacities and capabilities, which make it possible to execute most industry projects hitherto taken abroad before the advent of the Act. While acknowledging the partnership of operating companies with the Board over the

years and their support to the development of local capacity through various initiatives, Kentebe charged the companies not to rest on their oars, as he is new on the saddle and in view of the operational challenges facing the industry at the moment.

He gave an assurance that the Board would work closely with Nigerian Content GMs to find solutions to problems their companies might have relating to Nigerian Content compliance in their projects. In her comments, the

General Manager, Nigerian Content, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Mrs. Callista Azogu, underscored the IOCs avowed commitment to Nigerian Content development, which according to her began before the enactment of the Act in April 2010.

(L-R) Secretary, Rivers Entrepreneurs and Investors Forum (REIF), Mr. Tekena M.T Braide; President RIEF, Mr Ibifiri A.C Bobmanuel; General Manager, External Relations Nigeria LNG, Dr. Kudo Eresia-Eke; Trustees RIEF, Mr. Senibo B.J Clapp Jumbo and Chief Giadomerico Rassari, during a courtesy call on Eresia-Eke at the NLNG office in Port Harcout.

Stormy period for energy entrenched inefficiency.” It found out that fuel importers were being paid for 59 million litres a day, while the country only consumes 35 million litres. Besides, Nigeria spent N2.587 trillion on fuel subsidy in 2011 as against N245 billion provided for it in the budget. Four party sources from the All Progressives Congress (APC) told Reuters that the issue of fiscal terms, seen as crucial by the industry, would have to wait on current thinking about oil and gas policies for Nigeria. Crude output has stagnated at about two million barrels per day over the past few years, owing partly to under-investment. “We need to address the structural issues and leave the fiscal for now. A more transparent NNPC is needed with reasonable accounting,” Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had said. IOC’s expectation The expectation of oil firms rose to a new high during the period under review, especially with the emergence of Buhari. They were keen on knowing Buhari’s plans on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), particularly the stand on tax. Jonathan’s administration redrafted the PIB, which had been in the works at the National Assembly for a decade. The PIB was meant to change everything from fiscal

terms to overhauling the NNPC, environmental rules and revenue sharing, but its comprehensive nature caused disputes between lawmakers. Yet the main thing the oil companies were worried about was tax. The bill proposes 20 per cent tax on offshore projects and 50 per cent for onshore. Shell, ExxonMobil and other majors had complained that the terms are unfair, given the risk associated with operating in Nigeria. Uncertainty over the fiscal terms of the bill have been holding back billions of dollar of investment, especially into capitalintensive deep-water offshore, leading some to propose that the Bill be broken up into several pieces and debated separately. Drying oil reserves Oil exploration was also in its low during the period under review, prompting the crude discoverers in Nigeria under the aegis of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum explorationists (NAPE), to make plans to continue to rally foreign and local-based experts to find a way forward for the oil and gas industry. As long as Nigeria continues to operate without finding more crude oil, the country will definitely experience decline in reserve, but that will not lead to a total depletion unless there are no new discoveries. Govern-

ment had projected 40 billion barrels of crude oil reserve and four million barrels production per day for 2010, but failed to meet the target. It has now projected the same targets for 2020. All these projections would be achieved if there were strong policies on ground to encourage more investment in crude oil exploration. Pipeline safety The pipeline surveillance contracts signed between the NNPC and host communities and groups such as the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) expired during this period and these business plans failed to secure a renewal. At a briefing, President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Mr. Igwe Achese, noted that government must ensure the safety of the nation’s pipeline network to reduce the haulage of products by roads with its negative consequences, including loss of lives through road accidents and traffic gridlock, especially on ApapaOshodi expressway, which had been causing untold hardships to road users, among others. He said: “Government must ensure job security in the sector, as the cardinal programme of the party is job creation. The four refineries must be rehabilitated and new ones established

to end or reduce massive importation of petroleum products into the country.” Gas flaring The incoherence in policy and stand of government on gas flaring and oil spill has contributed immensely to degradation of the oil producing communities. These must be stopped in the interest of the nation. Power The power sector reforms, which need to be revisited, especially in the area of generation and transmission, created big hole in the energy sector during the period under review. The power supply continued to fall due to gas unavailability, the mystery of gas shortage and pipeline vandalism, despite surveillance contracts running into millions of dollars Conclusion The first half of 2015 has witnessed many shortcomings, which should be corrected during the second half of the year through reforms and good policy direction. The planned reform of the energy sector could lead to drastic change in policy that has bred corruption in the sector and made it easy for oil marketers and companies to engage in shady deals. The Buhari administration should, however, focus more on the reform of the oil sector before sorting out the issue of taxes.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

Housing authority: A house divided against itself p.36

Property&Environment 2015 HALF YEAR REVIEW

Economy, uncertainties slow down housing The Federal Government, in partnership with the private sector, planned to deliver one million housing units in 2015. But the decline in oil revenue, devaluation of naira, debt burden and uncertainties before the general elections slowed down the housing sector in the first half of the year. DAYO AYEYEMI reports

t is a known fact that Nigeria has a housing deficit estimated at a whopping 17 million units and will require a minimum investment of $300 billion (about N4.8 trillion) for housing construction costs alone over the next 30 years to meet the yearnings of Nigerians in need of homes. To adequately provide qualityhousing units for Nigerians, government rolled out a new housing policy, focusing on the need to build one million housing units annually in the next 20 years. The machinery was set in place in partnership with the private sector to deliver 800,000 units while government’s attention was on 200,000 dwelling units with the cooperation of the Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and the Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs). Impressed by these initiatives, there was great expectation among stakeholders in the housing sector in the beginning of 2015, following the steady progress recorded by the Federal Government in policy implementation and mortgage refinancing. Accommodation seekers, home builders, real estate developers and investors were full of hope that 2015, being an election year, would bring to them good tidings, despite several warnings by experts on the possible impacts of global decline in oil prices on real estate. However, six months after, stakeholders have been finding it difficult to cope with the situation due to the nation’s financial crisis occasioned by decline in oil revenue, naira devaluation and general inflation. NMRC The NMRC was set up in 2014 to provide long term loans through mortgage and commer-

UPDC estate in Abuja

cial banks to eligible Nigerians (including civil servants). The borrowed loan is spread over 20 years at a reasonable interest rate, making it easier and comfortable for repayment. The company targets the creation of over 200,000 mortgages in the next five years at an affordable interest rate. Towards the last quarter of last year, 10,000 mortgages were launched by the organisation, which were oversubscribed by Nigerians. Since the launch, there has not been a single transaction carried out by the mortgage refinance firm. FMBN Currently, the apex mortgage bank, the FMBN, is going through some reformations, having failed to deliver on its mandate. The reform is to shape the organisation and reposition it for better performance. For the first six months of 2015, not much was heard about FMBN’s activities. Experts’ view Speaking with New Telegraph, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, NOVONE Consult Limited, Mr. Ezekiel Nya-Etok, an architect, noted that the first six months of this year was a difficult period for practitioners, adding that there was much lull in the sector. According to him, the direction of the new government was yet to be visible. He added that stakeholders in the sector are still waiting to see its policy direction so as to guide their investment’s choice. He gave assurance that experts in the sector are ready to

Stakeholders await President Muhammadu Buhari’s policy direction

offer a hand of fellowship and support for the new government, pointing out that the provision of suitable housing units is imperative to win anti- corruption war. He said: “There is no way to win anti-corruption war without the provision of affordable houses for the citizens. To effectively tackle corruption, government must make housing available for the people.” Nya-Etok, who is also the Chairman of Federal Government Ministerial Committee on Social Housing, said that with the current minimum wage, a director in the ministry who earned a monthly salary of N200,000 would find it difficult to access a three-bedroom flat. He tasked the new government to embark on quality and affordable housing scheme for workers in order to wipe out corruption from the system. Managing Director, Amorit Property Company, Mr Kayode Oyewole, said that the economic situation in the country has slowed down real estate sector in the first half of the year. According to him, the scepticisms and uncertainties before the presidential and governorship elections further worsened the situation. Besides, he pointed out that the Federal Government’s publicprivate partnership (PPP) in the provision of housing has not really delivered the expected dwelling units. He blamed the inability of government to provide both on and offsite infrastructure for low performance of the private sector. High cost of infrastructure, he said, has not made housing units

in some of the estates affordable to the targeted groups. He said: “Government is supposed to support developers with the provision of infrastructure in order to crash the price of housing units.” Also, Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited, Mr. Rewane Bismark, stated that the fear of currency devaluation has reduced inflow of funds in the sector. He said that many investors are still waiting for clarity in policy and major appointments of government before taking any action. Vacancy factor Bismark noted that residential vacancy factor in Lekki has increased to 51 per cent from 48 per cent in May. According to him, the vacancy factor has also increased in Apapa as people have been moving out of the enclave due to traffic congestion. Conclusion Experts are optimistic that the second half of the year will bring good tidings to the housing sector if government sets its priorities right. They urged President Muhammadu Buhari to publicise his policy direction and expedite action on the appointment of a qualified professional as the housing minister. They also canvassed the need to roll out mass housing to revamp the economy and create employment for the youths. They also advocated an intervention fund for the housing industry, stressing that the use of local building materials must also be promoted.

Business | Property & Environment

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Housing authority: A house divided against itself The crisis rocking the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) is getting messier and something urgent has to be done to reposition the organisation. DAYO AYEYEMI writes

he Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has been in the news for some weeks now over the alleged endemic corruption, policy inconsistency and dearth of funds that have limited its progress. These developments, experts said, have resulted in Nigeria’s huge housing deficit of over 17 million housing units. Stakeholders have observed that while similar housing agencies in Africa that were established around the same period with FHA had numerous success stories, Nigeria’s

housing authority has been grappling with different challenges over the years. Genesis of the crisis The latest crisis started when the new Managing Director of FHA, Professor Mohammed Al-Amin, assumed office in 2014 and set up a committee to unravel the challenges confronting the organisation. According to the committee’s report, the challenges bordered on policy inconsistencies, workforce disputes, corruption, insider dealings and dearth of funds. Others include eroded confidence of staff and members of the public, financial mismanagement, failure in service delivery, insurmountable debt profile and many others. The committee, according to a document by the FHA Public Affairs Group, also alleged sharp practices by the management of FHA Homes Limited, a mortgage bank that was incorporated 12 years back to create mortgages for Nigerians as a palliative measure for

home ownership. FHA’s spokesperson, Mr. Tunde Ipinmosho, confirmed the originality of the report when contacted by New Telegraph. The report, made available by Mr. Olufemi Aduwo, alleged that the Managing Director of FHA-Homes Limited, Mr. Roland Igbinedon, had since been suspended over alleged misappropriation of fund. The report also highlighted the granting of staff loans without documentation and non-implementation of effective internal control procedures to safeguard its assets and prevent fraud. To protect the bank and FHA’s investment, and shield the institution from risks, the report said that during the CBN-induced recapitalisation for mortgage banks, the FHA management was said to have handed over to its mortgage bank, assets in excess of N11 billion to facilitate the renewal of its license by CBN and also ensure that it met the recapitalisation towards the issu-

One of the housing estates in Abuja

Sparklight presents poverty alleviation scheme

parklight Property Development Company has announced the take-off of its micro finance initiative termed Premier Poverty Alleviation Initiative (PPAI). Speaking during the inauguration of the scheme in Lagos, Chairman of PPAI and Executive Director of Sparklight, Mr. Bayo Adeyinka, said that the initiative was conceived with the vision of providing economic empowerment to the active poor of the society. He stated that the initiative was developed for petty traders and okada riders that move around from point A to B and the farmer that brings his produce to the market for sale. “All these people serve the society at a micro level one

way or the other, but are struggling to keep their businesses afloat,” he said. According to him, PPAI would deliver financial inclusive services that would move those at the lower cadre of the economy to much higher level, making them more financial sustainable and their venture profitable. He noted that wrong approaches had been engaged in building the nation by trying to build from top to bottom, dividing valuable natural resources among the rich and allowing the remnants to trickle down to the midsector with nothing left for the poor. The Chief Operating Officer of PPAI, Mr. Kenneth

Agba, said that the initiative was well capitalised, but that there was still opportunity for those who wish to invest in the company. He said that it would provide diversified, dependable and timely financial services to the economically-active poor, eliminate gender disparity by improving women’s access to loans and create employment opportunities. Agba added that the core product of PPAI include loans ranging from N30,000 to N300,000 through a lending group where people will access financial services collectively and “encourage one another to repay such loans through a 23-week equal weekly instalments with service charge.”

ance of a national license for the institution. The assets, which were in form of landed properties, were developed plots in many states of the federation. When New Telegraph called Roland’s mobile phone, he could not been reached. Probe Meanwhile, 45 civil society groups under the aegis of Rights Monitoring Group (RMG) are now calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the allegations of wrong doing against the suspended Managing Director of FHA-Homes Limited. RMG is also asking the EFCC to quickly dispatch its officials to scrutinise the operations of mortgage bank under the watch of Igbinoba since 2013 when he was appointed the managing director in deviant to CBN’s counsel. In a statement made available to New Telegraph in Lagos, which was jointly signed by its President, Mr. Olufemi Aduwo and General Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Ibidapo, the duo said that they have taken it upon themselves to investigate the allegations leveled against the former managing director of the bank by the previous board and supported by CBN’s observation. They said that they have discovered that “there is an iota of truth in the entire allegations.” The statement read: “The allegations against the suspended managing director of FHA-Homes Limited call for serious concern considering the quantum of recklessness and direct stealing allegedly perpetrated by the former managing director.”

Allegation They claimed that in 2014, the CBN’s supervisory report registered 50 infractions against the operations and practices of FHA-Homes Limited. The duo alleged that Roland granted a loan to himself at a ridiculous interest rate of three per cent per annum. This act, they insisted, contravene section 7.3(3) of the bank’s guidelines, as members of staff are charged 14 per cent. Besides, they said that the bank’s shareholders’ fund of approximately N3 billion as at December 2013 was eroded as a result of the huge unilateral lending made from the capital of the bank. They also said that based on CBN’s warning, the Board of Directors had noted the monumental danger and risk to investors’ fund. To avoid total loss of FHA cash and assets of over N13 billion in case of liquidation, the newly-appointed board said that it invited the suspended managing director for a meeting to shed more light on the CBN report. The group said: “Roland told the board that the apex bank’s report was false and to confirm the authentic position of the mortgage, the board decided to appoint forensic audit firm and the board asked him to step aside for proper auditing to be done, a position Roland vehemently rejected.” Aduwo said that though Mr. Roland had gone to the National Industrial Court in Abuja, in which the board of the FHA Homes Limited was restrained from suspending him as the bank’s managing director. Aduwo said that a petition letter was sent to the presidency last Friday to compel the arrest of Mr. Roland.

Realtors task women on real estate investment hief Executive Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, ThistlePraxis Consult- Royal Exchange Plc, Ms. C ing Limited, Ms. Ini Onuk, Sheila Ezeuko, noted that has said that real estate is about the safest investment in the world. She, however, lamented that the contribution of women who make up over 50 per cent of the country’s population was inconsequential. Onuk spoke on the need for women to take investment opportunities in real estate at the gathering of professional real estate practitioners, the first in the series of ‘The Lady Realtors’ training series in association with the United States Consulate, in Lagos. She pointed out that housing is one of the most leveraged investments available, but lack of ambition has been the major reason women failed to invest in real estate. “Real estate is low on what women are purchasing,” she said. The General Counsel and

women must overcome fear and take advantage of the opportunities that exist in the real estate sector of the economy. According to the Chief Executive Officer of 3Invest Limited, Ms. Ruth Obih, all a woman needs to invest in real estate is good counsel. She added that there were several aspects of the industry that women could explore. Founder of personal of finance blog, smartmoneyafrica.com, Ms. Arese Ugwu, said that women needed to focus more on business opportunities in the industry. Chief Executive Officer of Assist-2-Sell Properties Limited, sponsor of the training series, Ms. Chukwunonso Ume-Ezeoke, said that one of the major weaknesses of women was the lack of goals and self-confidence.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

Experts fret over bird strike p.38

Aviation 2015 HALF YEAR REVIEW

Nigeria’s aviation: A work in progress The first six months of 2015 gave hope to a sector that had all the potentials to do well. But it remains to be seen if the gains achieved so far this year could be sustained or at best be improved upon. WOLE SHADARE reports

takeholders are divided on the performance of the sector in the last six months. While some have lost confidence in the industry, others feel that it has done relatively well compared to what they termed Shenanigans of the past couple of years. Many are optimistic that the sector could actually get it right - having been recognised by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as meeting all the requirements to retain category one aviation status that was first awarded to the nation in 2010. The implication is that the country met all the conditionality to allow her deploy her own airplanes to the US to strengthen Nigeria-US Open Skies pact. Arik is the only carrier from Nigeria operating to America under that pact. Slow start The year started slowly. It was an election year where everything seems to have stood still. The minister then, Osita Chidoka, like many other top government officials, was strategising on how to help President Goodluck Jonathan return to power. Others were equally nursing political ambitions, which drastically slowed down governance. With intermittent policy statements, the sector was literally on slow motion. It is not as if the situation has improved. There have been delays in the appointment of ministers and other key positions. For the few months that Chidoka was in the saddle, he showed commitment to transforming the sector, but many years of rot, especially in the past four years, coupled with the fact that he had just less than one year to perform, made his task really onerous. But for the short period he presided over the sector, Chidoka’s rating was not totally bad. He was average and it could be said that his less than one year as minister was far better than that of her predecessor, who allegedly took the sector four years back.

Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Reforms Last January, buoyed by his passion for the sector, he came up with some reforms that divided opinions among stakeholders. As part of his reforms, the ex-minister unveiled what was generally known as Aviation Commit Initiative in Lagos, which aimed at providing better service for customers and improving the revenue that accrue from the aviation sector for the Federal Government. The initiative was to serve as a campaign to create awareness on the passengers’ bill of right. It was also aimed at repackaging, re-branding and redirecting the aviation industry in Nigeria towards enhanced service delivery and customer satisfaction. Followed in quick succession was government’s, which tinkered with the idea of assisting Nigerian airlines get out of the woods by proposing what it termed the stimulus plan, which was expected to be a package of financial incentives that would provide support across the aviation value chain. It would be recalled that the Federal Government had in 2008 given over N200 billion to airlines under what is generally known as aviation intervention fund. Criticisms But government came under criticisms from stakeholders who saw it as another way of allowing public funds end up in the hands of a few privileged Nigerians. Except for countries such as United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ethiopia, among a very few, where governments fund aviation, elsewhere, what they do is to provide enabling environment for the growth of the industry. Government had, eight years ago, given airlines over N200

billion. That did not solve their problems. Rather, the funds allegedly ended up in private pockets. Some of them claimed that they used the funds to offset debts. Aero, the defunct Air Nigeria, IRS, Arik and others got substantial amount to help them resuscitate their operations. Air Nigeria, owned by business mogul, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, got N35 billion and Aero over N25 billion. It was not known how much Arik Air got. The funds were to help the carriers offset their debts rather than buy equipment. Years after the monies were assessed, virtually all the airlines are in a serious financial crisis threatening their continued existence.

With intermittent policy statements, the sector was literally on slow motion

Airlines’ precarious situation The precarious situation of the carriers clearly shows why the nation is not benefitting much from what is regarded as major revenue earner for other countries that do not have oil. Countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya are typical examples of nations that have boosted their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through the travel/aviation industry. It would be recalled that the Nigerian commercial aviation industry has contributed about $0.7 billion (N137.9 billion) to the Nigerian GDP, and projected investment of $12 billion in the short and medium term that would lead to passengers’ growth of between 12 and 25 million by 2018. Additionally, the industry data revealed that Nigeria’s passenger traffic for inbound and outbound destinations soared to 21 million in 2014, surpassing the 2013 record by over 20 per cent. National airline There are indications that Nigeria could have reaped bountifully had it not liquidated Nigeria

Airways in 2004. That singular action by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration did incalculable damage to the sector in terms of human capital development and helplessness in the manner foreign airlines have dominated the country’s sky. Somehow, airlines such as Ethiopian Airways and Emirates have become so dominant that they may fast turn into local carriers because of the multiple designations granted to them, thereby narrowing or eliminating competition from the country’s airlines that are not only small but also fragmented. This has, however, jolted President Buhari to action, making him to moot the idea of setting up national airline for Nigeria. As a step for fulfilling this dream of millions of Nigerians, the Ahmed Joda transition committee, which submitted its report to President Muhammadu Buhari about two weeks ago, made recommendations on way forward to achieving this. The Joda committee advised President Buhari to consider a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement that would involve all airlines currently indebted to the Asset Management Corporation (AMCON), as part of the Federal Government’s contribution to a national carrier project. The committee recommended the decision be carried out in six months. It said that this will increase government’s revenue from the sector, reduce capital flight, expand the local aviation industry and create more employment opportunities for the people. Conclusion Nigeria has slept for too long CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

Business | Aviation

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Experts fret over bird strike LOSSES Nigerian airlines lose about N15 billion to bird strikes annually Stories by Wole Shadare

viation experts have raised concern over the prevalence of bird strikes in the aviation industry, which they insist if not urgently tackled, could endanger lives. Just last week, the issue dominated discourse at the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) forum held in Lagos. The forum was organised to discuss safety-related issues in the aviation industry and the high rate of accidents. Other issue discussed was the negligence in the regulation of the sector by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Aviation industry worldwide has been reported to lose $1.7 billion to bird strikes. The situation has led to the airlines incurring huge costs on repairs of their damaged aircraft engines. Bird strikes to aircraft have been a concern since the first recorded fatal bird strike in 1912. Recent occurrences have posed a lot of threat to the safety of aircraft and air passengers. Consequently, international agencies, including the NLI, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other agencies of government in Nigeria are seeking to accelerate research on technologies, such as pulsating landing lights that

can be installed on aircraft to frighten birds away. There have been bird detection and mitigation efforts at airports, such as avian radars mainly focused on detecting or keeping birds away from the airport environment. Also, America’s highest aviation safety regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Senior Representative in Africa, Moira Keane, recently said that in the global context of air transport, bird strike was not only dominant, but also remains a natural and universal phenomenon and one that has given great concern to the global aviation industry. Bird strike is the collision between bird and aircraft, and has been the cause of many accidents in air travel globally. It has severally threatened safety and led to aircraft damage with some airlines recording a loss of between N270 million and N3.2 billion to the damage caused by birds in Nigeria. According to a report by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), bird strikes caused 200 incidents that accounted for 17.4 per cent of the total air incidents in 2006. This has been estimated to have increased by 24 per cent because of increase in the number of aircraft operating in the airspace and also increased in bird strike incidents. In the past, AON had threatened to take the FAAN to court to compel it to pay for costs incurred in repairing damaged aircraft as a result of wildlife incidents,” Keane said. Stakeholders took a swipe at the regulatory body for prac-

NAMA seeks cooperation with ASECNA, GCAA I n a bid to further enhance safety of air navigation within the AFI region, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), last week, hosted a two-day tripartite cooperation meeting with Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA) at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos. Among other issues, the meeting sought to ensure safe, effective and efficient management of traffic across their common borders within the African airspace. Vital resolutions that would aid in the management of traffic in the upper airspace within the three states were also reached. Further discussions on the management of traffic in the

oceanic airspace are expected to continue at a later meeting slated for July 13 and 15 in Dakar, Senegal, to be presided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). In line with the present management’s track record of prioritising safety, power systems at the headquarters engineering room have been upgraded and relocated to a new power house detached from the main administrative building. According to the project supervisor, Atiku Abubakar, the project was borne out of the need to enhance safety, ensure ease of maintenance of electrical equipment and also improve stability of electricity supply within the headquarters complex.

A work in progress CONTINUED FROM PAG E 37

to get its acts together on the best way to make the sector a model for other nations the way Ethiopia, Dubai, Kenya

have used the industry not only to project their image to the outside world, but also to use it efficiently as a source of massive revenue generation.

tically going to sleep in their core business of safety just as airline operators were chided for cutting corners, thereby jeopardising the lives of travellers. Chairman, NLI, Mr. Yinka Oyinlola, said that the reason for holding the summit was to proffer solutions to the myriads of problems affecting the industry. He said that urgent steps should be taken to guarantee safety in Nigeria sky. President, AON, Captain Noggie Meggison, who spoke on behalf of all the operators, said that it costs over $4 million to replace an engine. He disclosed that collectively, the carriers lose an average of $120 million to replace the over

30 airplane engines destroyed by birds. The AON chief stated that bird strike also threatens safety because whenever it strikes, the engine of an aircraft it kills it. He said: “It becomes very tragic for one-engine aircraft, which may crash as the engines goes off, but the aircraft that has more than one engine would depend on the other engines, but it is not always easy.” He observed that Arik Air has suffered most from bird strike because it is the airline that has the highest number of aircraft, adding that airlines have become frustrated because of the inability of FAAN to drastically reduce

bird strike at airports, which prompted some of them to take the agency to some years ago. Bird strike has always become a major threat to air safety globally. Over the years, collision between birds/wildlife and aircraft has resulted in the death of hundreds of people and is responsible for annual losses worth about $3 billion to the global aviation industry. Available data shows that between 2005 and 2014, a total of 302 strike incidents occured in Nigeria. From about 17.4 per cent in 2006, bird strikes now accounts for 24 per cent of incidents in Nigeria. It was reported that Nigerian airlines lose about N15 billion to bird strikes annually.

Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI), Mr. Yinka Oyinlola (middle), surrounded by members of his team at the just-concluded Safer Skies summit held in Lagos

NCAA approves NAHCO’s new cargo charges

he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has approved the recent cargo tariff increase already implemented by the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco aviance). It would be recalled that NAHCO and clearing agents under the aegis of the Association of Nigeria Licenced Customs Agents (ANLCA) and the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) had agreed to a 20 per cent tariff increment towards the middle of May. The increment had since taken effect. Although the official approval by the NCAA was just now being made public, it is a sign of endorsement of the processes embarked upon by the ground handling company in reviewing its tariffs. In a letter addressed to the managing director of nahco aviance, dated June

2, 2015, and signed by the NCAA’s Director-General, Capt. Muhtar Usman, the NCAA said: “In line with powers conferred on the Authority by Part 18.7.3.1 of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig. CARs) 2012, approval is hereby given to your company to increase the Import Handling Charge from N38.00/ kg to N46.00/kg and the Courier Handling Charge from N45.00/kg to N54.00/ kg as agreed with the stakeholders.” While commending NAHCO for embarking on wide consultation with all stakeholders before embarking on the tariff increase, NCAA stated that it “wishes to advise that nahco aviance should continue to ensure adequate consultations with the stakeholders in line with the laid down guidelines and regulations guiding review or introduction of any charge.” It further asked that

NCAA be invited as an observer to future consultations on such a subject – matter. In a meeting at the head office of NAHCO in Lagos on May 15, 2015, the negotiating team of ANCLA, led by the Vice-Chairman, Bola Ashiru-Balogun, with the Treasurer, Afolabi Azeez and the Financial Secretary, Obanla Alex, said that they reached the agreement with NAHCO in the interest of the overall development of the industry and in realisation of the fact that both sides were in this tough economic situation together. The managing director of nahco aviance, Mr. Norbert Bielderman, said at the meeting that what happened was in the best spirit of give and take. He thanked everyone involved in the negotiations for their maturity while particularly thanking the ANCLA representatives for their professionalism.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESday, JULY 7, 2015

Photo | News

L-R: Chairman, Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , Chief Edwin Uzor; Governor Ifeanyi Okowa; Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya; his wife, Ejiro and Deputy Governor, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, during Igbuya’s thanksgiving service held at the Bethel Baptist Church, Sapele.

Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe (4th right); with some of his cabinet chiefs and members of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) working group on the ‘Green Paper’ for the National Policy on Technical Regulations, during their courtesy call to the Obi in his palace in Onitsha, Anambra State.

L-R: Founder, Latter Rain Assembly Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, his wife, Laide; President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe Odumakin, her husband Yinka and Youth Pastor, Femi Ojo, cutting the cake after a thanksgiving service as part of activities marking Joe Odumakin’s birthday in Lagos.

L-R: President, Westminster College, USA, Prof. Benjamin Ola Akande; Managing Partner and Educational Advisor, Tienny, Ifeanyi Olagbaju and Director of Ghana Campus, Webster University, Christa Sanders, after the varsity’s breakfast meeting in Lagos.

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Executive Director, Ivory Banking, Heritage Bank Limited, Mrs. Mary Akpobome; Director, Community Development Service and Special Project, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Victoria Bose Okakwu; Managing Director, Heritage Bank Limited, Mr. Ifie Sekibo and Director-General, NYSC, Brig.-General Johnson Olawunmi, during a courtesy visit by the NYSC team to the bank’s in Lagos.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Representative of the Bayelsa State Governor, Admiral John Jonah (left), with Mala Sasime, the Obenibe Xi of Epie Kingdom, at the new yam festival by the people of Epie Kingdom in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State.

Seriki of Nupeland in Sagamu, Alhaji Abdullahi Saba Dabban (third left); Hon. Kamorudeen Oladipupo Adebutu; Hon. Jamiu Olododo and others, during the official inauguration of a Central Mosque, donated to Nupe community in Sabo, Sagamu, Ogun State.

L-R: Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran, Alhaji Sodiq Alalobo; Coordinator, Islamic Development Youth Association of Omu-Aran, Alhaji Shittu Abdul Azeez and Aare Musulumi of Omu-Aran, Alhaji Yunus Abioye, at the Ramadan lecture held in Omu-Aran, Kwara. PHOTO: NAN

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

Naira falls to N232 against dollar at parallel market

VOLATILITY Currency fell to N230 per dollar last Friday Tony Chukwunyem with agency report

is growing everyday. The situation is the same for Bureaux de Change (BDCs). The CBN suspended some BDCs and this has reduced the supply of dollars. It is hard for us to meet the demand of customers.” Financial analysts last week predicted that the naira might crash to N250 against the dollar at the parallel market in the coming days. They called on the CBN to devalue the currency to avoid a finan-

lar on the official interbank market for importers buying a wide range of goods, shifting demand for hard currency to the black market. The currency traded at N198.50 on the interbank market. A black market operator told the New Telegraph that the scarcity of dollars in the market was getting worse by the day and that this was impacting the naira. He said, “The demand

he naira’s recent slide against the dollar at the parallel market continued yesterday, as the local currency fell to a record low of N232 to the greenback down from N230 last Friday, traders said. The naira has been under pressure in the parallel market since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) a fortnight ago curbed access to the dol-

cial crisis. Disappointed by the apex bank’s delay in devaluing the naira, international investors may soon start avoiding Nigeria’s bond and stock markets, analysts at Reuters had said. According to the news agency, the decision by the apex bank penultimate week to introduce curbs on dollar funding for investors, as well as for importers of goods ranging from toothpicks to private jets, dashed investors’ ex-

Buhari cabinet delay hurts Nigerian bonds

resident Muhammadu Buhari’s delay in naming key members of his cabinet has led to investors shunning the country’s debts, Bloomberg reported yesterday. As the news agency put it, “An index of naira bonds declined 2.6 per cent in dollar terms over the past month. That compares with average losses of 0.2 per cent across 31 emerging markets. And while Nigerian rates of 14.9 per cent are the highest among those nations, foreigners are staying

to choose Ministers and there are speculations that he may not do so until September. So far he has articulated few ideas on how to revive an economy ravaged by an almost 45 per cent drop in Brent crude prices over the past year, Head of Economic Research at Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI), Angus Downie, said. Oil accounts for over 70 per cent of government revenue. A delay in naming a Finance Minister means it may take longer for investors to find out whether

clear until they know Buhari’s plans for the exchange rate and budget, according to Barclays Plc and Rand Merchant Bank.” An analyst at Barclays, Ridle Markus, was quoted as saying, “You can’t ignore the yields on offer in Nigeria, except for when there’s a lack of clarity on policy. It creates further uncertainty as to what the cabinet will look like, what decisions the finance minister will take.” More than a month after he was sworn in, President Buhari is yet

currency restrictions will be removed, according to Joseph Rohm, a money manager at Investec Asset Management, which oversees about $110 billion. He said, “We need a devaluation and strong appointees in the government for the market to go up.” Bonds and equities surged after Jonathan conceded defeat to Buhari, easing investors’ concerns about a disputed result in a country that had never seen a peaceful change of power from one party to another.

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF MPR 91-day NTB Bonny Light Ext Res**

N19,142,526.05m N18,579,219.49m 9 13 10.77 US$60.42 US$29,276,820,453

Mar, 2015 Mar, 2015 May, 2015 4/6/2015 Mar 2015 6/7/2015 3/7/2015

Source:CBN

Description 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 16.00 29-JUN-2019 15.54 13-FEB-2020 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 10.00 23-JUL-2030

TTM

Price

1.11 1.81 3.98 4.61 6.56 8.69 15.05

FGN Bonds 98.21 100.15 102.84 101.49 105.71 97.01 68.00

NIBOR

Tenor (Days) Call 30 90 180

Rate (%) 5.1250 14.1547 15.5823 16.3288

Bid Yield

14.81 14.96 15.02 15.06 14.99 14.81 15.56

Change (%) -0.75▼ -0.06▼ -0.02▼ 0.05 ▲

Change (%) 0.31 ▲ 0.12 ▲ 0.08 ▲ 0.15 ▲ 0.17 ▲ -0.05▼ 0.00 ↔

Price 98.36 100.30 103.14 101.79 106.01 97.31 68.30

Tenor (Months)

Offer Yield 14.66 14.86 14.92 14.97 14.92 14.75 15.49

NITTY

1 2 3 6 9 12

Treasury Bills

Rate (%) 9.0934 11.4177 13.4399 13.5793 13.7300 14.3697

Spot($/N)

Offer 197.82

Change (%) -1.24▼ -0.55▼ -0.15▼ -0.03▼ -0.41▼ -0.05▼

Money Market

Maturity Date Discount Bid Yield Change (%) Discount Offer Yield Change (%) Rate (%) 12.75 13.14 -0.06 ▼ Open-Buy-Back (OBB) 4.75 01-Oct-15 13.00 13.41 -0.06 ▼ 12.44 13.28 -0.31 ▼ Overnight (O/N) 5.25 07-Jan-16 12.69 13.56 -0.31 ▼ 12.40 13.97 -0.15 ▼ 02-Jun-16 12.65 14.29 -0.15 ▼ Bid 197.72

Change (%) 0.30 ▲ 0.12 ▲ 0.07 ▲ 0.15 ▲ 0.17 ▲ -0.05▼ 0.00↔

Change (%) -0.38 ▼

NIFEX

Spot($/N)

Bid 198.9500

Offer 199.0500

Change (%) 0.50▲ 0.75▲

Change (%) 0.00 ↔

CBN Clearing Rates of July 6, 2015 Spot($/N)

195.95

196.95

0.00 ↔ Source: FMDQ

pectations of devaluation of the naira. Reuters quoted a bond fund manager at Standard Life Investments, Kieran Curtis, as saying, “It will take a combination of weaker currency and higher interest rates to get us back to Nigeria. When we compare Nigeria to other oil exporters it hasn’t had enough of a currency adjustment.” The analysts pointed out that with oil exports providing 70 per cent of the country’s budget revenues, it was impera-

tive for Nigeria to have a cheaper currency, adding that most of the analysts had reckoned on a10-15 percent devaluation at least and a 20-25 percent move at most. They further noted that the price for supporting the naira is high because, according to them, the CBN has spent at least $3.4 billion since fixing the exchange rate in February and reserves have fallen below $30 billion for the first time since 2005. “To me, (central bank measures) are doing more harm than good: you are putting off the inevitable and the reaction you are seeing on rates markets and the NDF shows that,” said Kevin Daly, a fund manager at Aberdeen Asset Management.

UBA unveils ‘simplified process’ for BVN registration Chris Ugwu

nited Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has introduced a simple, convenient process for customers of the bank to submit their Biometric Verification Numbers (BVN), even as the lender said it had registered 2.7 million bank customers currently. Leveraging on its information technology infrastructure, yesterday the bank launched a short code number *919*6# through, which customers can send their BVN. “The process is very simple. All a customer has to do is to send his or her valid BVN from the telephone number that was used to open their account to the short code number and it will become automatically linked,” said Director, Group Information Technology, UBA Plc Mr. Rasheed Adegoke. The introduction of

this simplified process was in response to some of the challenges associated with the ongoing BVN exercise. “UBA has come up with this novel process to ensure that customers who already have their BVN do not have any issues submitting it to their alternate banks” explained Adegoke. Once customers submit their BVN through the code, they will get an immediate response letting them know whether their BVN is valid or incorrect. A phone number through, which further enquiries can be made by the customers if required, will accompany the responses. In addition to this phone number, customers can also reach UBA on social media though Facebook and twitter or by calling UBA’s Customer Fulfillment Centre for further clarifications.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank eyes expansion into Africa

bu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC, the United Arab Emirates’ second-biggest sharia-compliant lender, is considering entering markets in Africa and South East Asia to tap demand in countries with a large Muslim population. The bank has “looked closely” at Indonesia and Malaysia as well as Algeria, Morocco and Jordan, Chief Executive Officer Tirad Mahmoud, told newsmen on Sunday. “We are actively visiting locations where we may be planting a flag” and may consider an acquisition next year as part of the plan, he said. Banks in the U.A.E.

are seeking to expand to diversify revenue and boost growth, which is restricted by the small size of their home market. ADIB, as the bank controlled by Abu Dhabi’s ruling family is known, is present in countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan and the U.K. ADIB in 2014 acquired the retail banking business of Barclays Plc in the U.A.E. for 650 million dirhams ($177 million). The bank was also among lenders that bid to buy the retail banking assets of Citigroup Inc. in Egypt this year, losing out to Commercial International Bank Egypt SAE last month.

Business | Financial Market News

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

6-Jul-15

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 ^15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 233.73 600.00 599.99 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 324.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,838.17

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,401.40

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

1.11 1.81 2.06 2.15 2.90 3.98 4.30 4.61 6.56 8.69 13.40 13.88 14.38 15.05 19.03

14.81 14.96 15.02 15.02 15.04 15.02 15.09 15.06 14.99 14.81 16.04 16.22 16.42 15.56 15.03

14.66 14.86 14.93 14.93 14.97 14.92 14.97 14.97 14.92 14.75 15.98 16.16 16.33 15.49 14.97

98.21 100.15 91.11 89.85 90.07 102.84 75.05 101.49 105.71 97.01 94.28 79.59 56.73 68.00 82.03

98.36 100.30 91.26 90.00 90.22 103.14 75.35 101.79 106.01 97.31 94.58 79.89 57.03 68.30 82.33

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.10 112.22 116.70 66.49

03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.99 1.43 1.79 2.00

2.94 1.42 1.00 1.00

17.24 16.28 15.99 16.02

100.01 99.62 104.20 93.32

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

297.52

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

297.54

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.15

4.44

15.43

99.47

A-/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

2.16

30-Sep-15

0.24

3.23

16.48

99.14

BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

2.60

30-Jun-16

0.73

4.46

18.37

97.13

‡ /Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

3.96

30-Jun-16

0.74

3.48

17.40

98.72

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.79

1.00

15.99

90.94

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

21.24

30-Jun-17

1.28

1.00

15.67

97.89

‡ /Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.49

1.79

16.82

94.46

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.87

1.80

16.81

95.75

Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.88

1.00

16.01

96.87

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

12.40

09-Dec-18

2.07

1.00

16.02

97.46

Bb-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

9.21

12-Dec-18

2.07

4.78

19.80

90.84

‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.05

1.00

16.02

99.10

BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

15.09 80.00 24.74

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.49 4.38 2.55

2.02 1.00 1.00

17.05 16.10 16.03

97.00 95.07 97.46

BBB-/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

10.78

10-Oct-20

3.00

1.82

16.86

95.38

Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.40

1.00

16.06

90.94

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.49

1.00

16.06

96.23

‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.30

31-Dec-20

3.33

1.00

16.05

96.29

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.68

1.00

16.06

97.28

99.87

440.84 416.74

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds BBB+/Agusto BBB-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

2.50

17-Aug-15

0.12

1.00

10.99

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

9.38

09-Dec-15

0.43

1.00

14.58

98.94

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.76

2.63

16.58

98.17

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.23

1.00

15.61

97.12

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.31

1.34

16.04

97.90

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.24

1.00

16.02

94.44

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.56

30-Nov-17

1.47

1.88

16.80

102.20

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

5.40

09-Apr-18

1.51

1.00

15.96

100.00

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.54

09-Sep-18

1.68

1.00

15.98

102.68

99.96

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.70

09-Sep-18

1.68

1.00

15.98

A+/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

30-Sep-18

3.24

3.00

18.04

90.33

BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.10

18-Oct-18

1.78

2.29

17.28

97.72

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.36

17-Feb-19

1.87

6.11

21.12

95.65

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.49

2.16

17.19

97.64

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.36

2.76

17.83

91.28

BBB/GCR

FCMB

14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021

20-Nov-14

14.25

26.00

20-Nov-21

6.38

1.80

16.80

90.21

A/GCR

UBA

16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021

30-Dec-14

16.45

30.50

30-Dec-21

6.49

1.00

15.99

101.80

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

16.29

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.24

1.00

15.82

102.18

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.24

1.00

15.82

87.69

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

178.07

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

168.75

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

2.60

1.00

16.03

87.96

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

3.82

1.00

16.06

86.85

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.80

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

6.04

5.83

103.31

104.31

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.03

4.66

100.25

101.29

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.33

6.17

100.28

101.30

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,519.18

Corporate Eurobonds B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

5.98

101.25

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.51

99.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

11.45

9.71

89.17

93.09

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.55

7.00

95.50

97.07

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.14

97.06

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.30

9.58

95.12

97.34

B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

8.25 AUG 07, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

07-Aug-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

8.25 9.25 8.00

300.00 400.00 450.00

07-Aug-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

9.27 10.53 9.52

9.27 10.16 9.52

95.25 94.61 92.33

95.25 96.16 92.33

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.55

9.93

91.25

93.88

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

3,650.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,487.35

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 10 17 24 31 38 52 59 66

FIXINGS Maturity 16-Jul-15 23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 10-Sep-15

Bid Discount (%) 5.71 6.81 6.67 8.86 10.87 10.42 11.36 11.96

Offer Discount (%) 5.46 6.56 6.42 8.61 10.62 10.17 11.11 11.71

Bid Yield (%) 5.71 6.83 6.69 8.93 10.99 10.58 11.57 12.22

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 5.1250 14.1547 15.5823 16.3288

Rate (%)

OBB

4.75

O/N

5.25

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 5.25 5.50

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

197.72 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

197.82 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 ^15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 233.73 600.00 599.99 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 324.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,838.17

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Description

15.02 15.04 15.02 15.09 15.06 14.99 14.81 16.04 16.22 16.42 15.56 15.03

14.93 14.97 14.92 14.97 14.97 14.92 14.75 15.98 16.16 16.33 15.49 14.97

89.85 90.07 102.84 75.05 101.49 105.71 97.01 94.28 79.59 56.73 68.00 82.03

90.00 90.22 103.14 75.35 101.79 106.01 97.31 94.58 79.89 57.03 68.30 82.33

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

2.10 112.22 116.70 66.49

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.99 1.43 1.79 2.00

2.94 1.42 1.00 1.00

17.24 16.28 15.99 16.02

100.01 99.62 104.20 93.32

Stock market sustains sell pressure

FMBN

Stock market opens the CAPITALISATION week in a TOTAL MARKET negativeBonds path Sub-National

2.15 2.90 3.98 4.30 4.61 6.56 8.69 13.40 13.88 14.38 15.05 19.03

Business | Financial Market News

4,401.40

Issuer

LOW Agency Bonds CONFIDENCE

31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

297.52

297.54 times. declined respectively by closed in red following sector of the financial that Neimeth Nigeria Plc services sector was the topped the day’s gainers’ Market watchers be- 0.22 per cent, 1.16 per cent negative sentiments of 12.50 8.50 31-Aug-15 0.15 15.439.84 per99.47 lieve investors are yet to and 0.55 per cent. 31-Aug-10 investors. most active (measured by 4.44 table with cent to 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 A/Agusto KADUNA 30-Sep-10 13.00 2.16 30-Sep-15 0.24 30-SEP-2015 A-/Agusto *EBONYI get respite,13.00 as EBONYI uncertainHowever, the insurance Consequently , the All- turnover volume); with 3.23 close at16.48 N1.34 per99.14 share, 30-Jun-11 14.00 2.60 30-Jun-16 0.73 4.46 18.37 97.13 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 BBB+/Agusto *BENUE ty in the financial sector and industrial equities Insurance Share15.50 Index dipped3.9694.22 93.8 million shares 30-Jun-09 30-Jun-16 0.74 worth 3.48 while NEM 17.40 98.72 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 ‡ /Agusto *IMO 19-Apr-10 10.00 57.00 19-Apr-17 1.79 1.00 15.99 90.94 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 A+/Agusto; LAGOS Stories‡ /GCR by Chris Ugwu million exchanged continued 10.00 to depress the bucked the trend having basis 13.75 points or 0.29 per N754.8 Plc followed with 7.46 per 30-Jun-10 21.24 30-Jun-17 1.28 1.00 15.67 97.89 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 ‡ /Agusto *BAYELSA equities market. risen by 0.90 per cent and cent to close at 32,444.12 by31-Dec-17 investors in 1,180 30-Dec-10 14.00 25.00 as 2.49 deals. 1.79 cent to close 16.82 at 72 kobo 94.46 per 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 ‡ /Agusto EDO 30-Sep-11 14.00 30.81 30-Sep-18 1.87 1.80 16.81 95.75 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA The NSE14.00 All Share In- 1.53 per cent, according he Nigerian eqto against 32,538.34 recorded Volume in the1.88 banking 1.00 share. Mansard Insurance 04-Oct-11 14.00 9.00 04-Oct-18 16.01 96.87 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER uity market*EKITI yesdex and market the NSE Insurance09-Dec-11 Index the previous day, 12.40 while sub-sector was2.07largely 1.00 Plc added cent to 14.50 09-Dec-18 16.024.81 per97.46 ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† 14.50 EKITIcapitali09-DEC-2018 12-Dec-13 14.00 9.21 12-Dec-18 2.07 4.78 19.80 90.84 Bb-/Agusto *NIGER 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 close at N2.83 per share. terday plunged sation each declined by and the NSE Consumer market capitalisation of driven by activities in the 14-Feb-12 15.50 27.00 14-Feb-19 2.05 1.00 16.02 99.10 ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 flip side,97.00 Enamfollow0.29 per cent. This02-OCT-2019 was Goods Index. equities shares of Access2.49 Bank Plc 2.02 On the 02-Oct-12 15.50 depreciated 15.09 by 02-Oct-19 17.05 BBB+/Agusto;further A-/GCR *GOMBE 15.50 GOMBE Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 22-Nov-12 14.50 80.00 22-Nov-19 4.38 1.00 16.10 95.07 ing massive sell off that amid declines in bankWith only 22 gainers N32 billion or 0.29 per cent and Diamond Bank Plc. elware Plc led the losers’ 12-Dec-12 14.75 24.74 12-Dec-19 2.55 1.00 16.03 97.46 BBB-/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *OSUN 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 key from 14.75 had persisted on*OSUN the ing, consumer goods and and 29 losers, the N11.107 trillion Also, other3.00 finan- 1.82 with a 16.86 drop of five 10-Oct-13 10.78 the 10-Oct-20 95.38 per BBB-/Agusto 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 13.50 87.50 27-Nov-20 5.40 Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS which 27-NOV-2020 benchmark indices27-Nov-13 local bourse in recent cent to16.06 close at 90.94 N30.23 oil/gas equities, main- previous day to N11.075 cial services sub sector, 1.00 31-Dec-13 15.00 5.00 31-Dec-20 5.49 1.00 16.06 96.23 A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 boosted in 1.00 per share, trillion. 31-Dec-13 14.50 4.30 31-Dec-20 by activities 3.33 16.05 while Dangote 96.29 ‡ /Agusto *EKITI 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 tained negative trajectory 15.00 4.56 3.68 16.06and Carverton 97.28 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 to close in the red, as06-Jan-14 activMeanwhile, a turnover the06-Jan-21 shares of FBNH Plc, 1.00 Flour Plc TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE ities in the shares of blue of 155.8 million 440.84 shares followed with a turnover Plc shed 4.97 per cent each 416.74 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION chip companies dragged worth N1.6 billion in 3,230 of 20.3 million shares val- to close at N3.44 and N3.25 Corporate Bonds down the equity market. deals 10.00 was recorded2.50 in the ued at N198.6 million in 1.00 per share respectively . To10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 17-Aug-15 0.12 10.99 99.87 BBB+/Agusto *UPDC trading. on day’s 12.00 51709-Dec-15 deals. by 4.85 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 Trading activities BBB-/Agusto 09-Dec-10 9.38 0.43 1.00 tal Oil Plc 14.58plunged98.94 *FLOURMILLS 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB/GCR 06-Jan-11 14.00 06-Jan-16 0.76 *CHELLARAMS the floor of Exchange Just as in the 0.42 previFurther analysis of 2.63 per cent16.58 to close at 98.17 N157.00 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 13.00 15.00 29-Sep-16 1.23 1.00 15.61 97.12 NAHCO idelity Bank Plc bond amounted to N90.73 had at last weekend also ous day , the banking subthe day’s trading showed per share. 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 14.25 5.53 25-Oct-16 1.31 1.34 16.04 97.90 FSDH UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR has raised N30 30-Sep-10 13.00 20.00 30-Sep-17 2.24 1.00 16.02 94.44 UBA bil- billion as 13.00 at December C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.56 30-Nov-17 1.47 1.88 16.80 102.20 *C & I LEASING 2014, has a18.00 capital ratio lion ($151 million) MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 09-Apr-11 16.00 5.40 09-Apr-18 1.51 1.00 15.96 100.00 Nil *DANA MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 18.00 2.54 09-Sep-18 1.68 1.00 15.98 102.68 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER through an unsecured of 22.6 per cent. MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 16.00 0.70 09-Sep-18 1.68 1.00 15.98 99.96 AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR *TOWER bond at 16.48 per cent, to Shares in the bank, 14.00 UBA II 30-SEP-2018 A+/Agusto; A/GCR 30-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 30-Sep-18 3.24 3.00 18.04 90.33 UBA fund increased lending per cent last scheme alone17.28 employed97.72 about utual Assur- cies. 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 BBB+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR 18-Oct-13 Benefits15.75 2.10 18-Oct-18 1.78 2.29 *LA CASERA which fell 39 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 17-Feb-12Plc has posted 18.00 0.36 17-Feb-19 1.87 21.12 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS to small businesses and year, were up 3 per cent at ance a “We are developing 50 new 12006.11 graduates, which is 95.65 exactly 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 01-Apr-19 2.49 2.16 17.19 97.64 Nil *DANA retail A-/GCR clients, financial N1.70. pre-tax N4.526 products alongside demographwhat insurance to do, 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; 14-Nov-13 profit of 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 5.36 2.76we want 17.83 91.28 NAHCO 14.25 FCMB I 20-NOV-2021 BBB/GCR 20-Nov-14 14.25year 20-Nov-21 6.38 90.21 ic,26.00 trade groups and risks pecuadvisers to the issueFCMB said Rival lender Skye Bank billion for the financial that1.80 is, create 16.80 value and empowI 30-DEC-2021 A/GCR 30-Dec-14 16.45 30.50 30-Dec-21 6.49 1.00 101.80 UBA liar to each segment in Nigeria. yesterday. has said it 16.45 willUBA raise N50 ended December 31, 2014. er people. Each15.99 bus has four staff 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 16.29 0.10 30-Sep-24 9.24 1.00 15.82 102.18 STANBIC IBTC STANBICissue IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 profit represents 13.25 30-Sep-24 the off 9.24 87.69 We15.44 have gone beyond the and1.00 The pre-tax According to the STANBIC bond IBTCbillion via 13.25 a rights they have15.82 shifts. TOTAL OUTSTANDING 178.07 products,” he told journalprospectus seen VALUE by Re- by the third quarter to exa growth of 396 per cent over shelf “Some work from 5.30am in TOTAL CAPITALISATION 168.75 in Lagos. uters, MARKET the fixed-rate bond pand its loan book, after N911.075 million recorded dur- ists the morning to 2.00pm while Supranational Bond due 2022 was fully under- it sold N100 billion worth ing the same period of 2013. Ogbubiyi said the company others from 2.00pm to 10.00pm. 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 1.00 16.03 87.96 written and will be quoted of commercial notes in According to a notice from had developed11-Feb-18 an effective 2.60 dis- There is something we call 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB 10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 01-Feb-21 3.82 1.00 16.06 86.85 on the Nigerian Stock Exthe Nigerian Stock Exchange March. tribution channel that involved ACHAN, which is, Airport Car TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 24.95 change. Fidelity Bank can use of partner agents, busi- Hire Association of Nigeria. Stanbic IBTC Hold(NSE), the statement of financial the TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 21.80 redeem the bond after five ings, the unit of South position as at the period under ness membership organisations When you see those Camry cars Outstanding Value Description Issuer Issue Date gross Coupon (%) Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) in Offer Yield (%) functional Bid Price Offer Price in years,Rating/Agency it said. all the airports Africa’s Standard Bank, review showed premium and insurance brokers, among ($mm) Nigerian lenders have has filed an application written grew to N15.451 billion others. Nigeria, Mutual Benefits has FGN Eurobonds Prices & Yields been shoring up their bal- to the Nigerian bourse6.75toJAN 28, 2021 in 2014 as07-Oct-11 against N8.1256.75 billion He said that28-Jan-21 by 2015, Mutual over5.83400 of them. BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P 500.00 6.04 103.31 104.31 recorded a year earlier. This in- Benefits would open 200 new ance sheets after adopting raise N20.4 billion via a “For every empowerment that BB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 5.03 4.66 100.25 101.29 BB-/S&P dicated a12-Jul-13 drop of 90.16 per cent. offices to register its presence stricter international cap- rights issue. we did, insurance was attached BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 Basic earnings 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 6.33 . 6.17 100.28 101.30 Nigeria’s banking secto it. For the Camry cars, we are ital requirements, which The group’s in more corners of the country BB-/S&P far, the company has opened taking group life insurance on has meant capital ratios tor index, which accounts per share also rose to 51.24kobo So TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 1,500.00 from 6.95 kobo. for most lenders dropping for around 40 per cent of several the association. If not for our iniTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION 1,519.18 shops across the country, by between 100 and 400 total stock market capiThe Group Managing Direc- while partnering unions and tiative, such premium wouldn’t Corporate Eurobonds basis points to nearGTBANK the PLCtalisation, tor of the company Mr. Akin brokers for tailor-made services. have come to the industry . Again has gained7.50 2.9MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P I 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 5.98 5.98 101.25 101.25 Ogunbiyi25-Jul-12 had in 2013 explained Ogunbiyi said: “We are7.51 al- for the would regulatory minimum of BANKper 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS PLC cent so far this year, 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 7.51 cars, many 99.50 of them 99.50 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC 09-May-13 expansion 6.88 proj300.00the last man 02-May-18 11.45 9.71 93.09 the company’s most standing now have opted for89.17 third party insur16 per cent. having lost 22 per cent 6.88 lastMAY 09, 2018 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 7.55 7.00 95.50 but we made it part97.07 of the ect and plans to make insurance when it comes 08-Nov-18 to involvement in ance, Fidelity, whose other year owing to a heavy bur6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 7.14 7.14 97.06 97.06 borrowings including a BANK products21-May-14 available for all transportation of private sector package that95.12 they have97.34 to do den from tight regulation, 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND PLC 8.75types 200.00 21-May-19 10.30 9.58 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 07-Aug-13 8.25 poli300.00 07-Aug-20 9.27 9.27 95.25 95.25 of needs with 50 innovative in Lagos State. However, that comprehensive insurance. $300 million debut Eurowhich cramped9.25/6M profits. USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

Fidelity Bank raises N30bn bond issue

Mutual Benefits reports N4.5bn pre-tax profit

#{r}

B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

9.25 8.00

400.00 450.00

24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

10.53 9.52

10.16 9.52

94.61 92.33

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.55

9.93

91.25

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

96.16 92.33

93.88

6-Jul-15

3,650.00 3,487.35

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ Money Market professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS FIXINGS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up Exchange to date. We do &not guarantee Foreign (Spot Forwards) DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) NIBORfor the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability 10 16-Jul-15 5.71 5.46 5.71 17 24 31 38 52 59 Rating/Agency 66 80 87 101 115 129 143 150 157 164 171 185 NA 192 199 206 213 220 227 234 241 255 262

23-Jul-15 30-Jul-15 6-Aug-15 13-Aug-15 27-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 Issuer 10-Sep-15 24-Sep-15 1-Oct-15 15-Oct-15 29-Oct-15 12-Nov-15 26-Nov-15 3-Dec-15 10-Dec-15 17-Dec-15 24-Dec-15 7-Jan-16 NA 14-Jan-16 21-Jan-16 28-Jan-16 4-Feb-16 11-Feb-16 18-Feb-16 25-Feb-16 3-Mar-16 17-Mar-16 24-Mar-16

FGN Bonds

276 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

6.81 6.67 8.86 10.87 10.42 11.36 Description 11.96 11.59 13.00 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 13.27 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 13.51 13.09 9.85 27-JUL-2017 13.52 9.35 31-AUG-2017 12.40 10.70 30-MAY-2018 13.37 12.34 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 13.07 7.00 23-OCT-2019 12.69 ^15.54 13-FEB-2020 13.75 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 13.69 13.76 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.84 15.00 28-NOV-2028 13.74 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.75 13.61 8.50 20-NOV-2029 13.70 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.78 ^12.1493 13.40 18-JUL-2034

6.56 6.42 8.61 10.62 10.17 11.11 Issue 11.71Date 11.34 12.75 16-Aug-13 13.02 27-Apr-12 13.26 12.84 27-Jul-07 13.27 31-Aug-07 12.15 30-May-08 13.12 12.09 29-Jun-12 12.82 23-Oct-09 12.44 13-Feb-15 13.50 27-Jan-12 13.44 13.51 14-Mar-14 13.59 28-Nov-08 13.49 22-May-09 13.50 13.36 20-Nov-09 13.45 23-Jul-10 13.53 18-Jul-14 13.15

6.83 6.69 8.93 10.99 10.58 11.57 Coupon 12.22 (%) 11.89 13.41 13.05 13.77 15.10 14.11 13.72 9.85 14.28 9.35 13.06 10.70 14.18 13.06 16.00 13.92 7.00 13.56 15.54 14.82 16.39 14.79 14.91 14.20 15.05 15.00 14.98 12.49 15.04 14.91 8.50 15.06 10.00 15.24 12.1493 14.82

Bonds

7-Apr-16

13.35

13.10

14.84

290

21-Apr-16

13.54

13.29

15.17

304

5-May-16

12.88

12.63

14.43

332

2-Jun-16

12.65

12.40

14.29

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Rating/Agency Issuer and not the duration *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated

Description

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Outstanding Value (N'bn) 581.39

Rate (%) 5.1250 14.1547 15.5823 16.3288

4.75

O/N

5.25

REPO

Maturity Date

NITTY

Tenor 476.80 1M 2M 20.00 3M 100.00 6M 300.00 9M 12M 351.30

OBB

16-Aug-16

Rate (%) 27-Apr-17 9.0934 11.4177 27-Jul-17 13.4399 31-Aug-17 13.5793 30-May-18 13.7300 14.3697 29-Jun-19

233.90 23-Oct-19 233.73 13-Feb-20 NIFEX 600.00 27-Jan-22 Current Price ($/N)14-Mar-24 599.99 BID($/N) 198.9500 75.00 28-Nov-28 OFFER ($/N) 199.0500 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 324.50 18-Jul-34

Rate (%) 5.25

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M Yield Offer 3M (%) 6M 1Y

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

197.72 197.82 201.81 201.93 Price 202.28 202.13 202.87 203.37 204.24 205.31 Bid Price Offer 205.60 207.21Price 206.28 213.47 220.29 226.27

Tenor Call TTM 1M (Yrs) 3M 6M

Bid5.50 Yield (%)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Modelled Price

03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.99 1.43 1.79 2.00

2.94 1.42 1.00 1.00

17.24 16.28 15.99 16.02

100.01 99.62 104.20 93.32

5.75 6.00

1.11 14.81 14.66 1.81 14.96 14.86 NOTE: 2.06 15.02 14.93 :Benchmarks 2.15 15.02 14.93 * :Amortising Bond 2.90 15.04 14.97 µ :Convertible Bond AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 3.98 Management Corporation 15.02 14.92 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 4.30 15.09 14.97 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 4.61 Finance Corporation 15.06 14.97 IFC: International 6.56 14.99 Management 14.92 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 8.69 Aviation Handling 14.81 Company 14.75 O/N: Overnight 13.40 16.04 15.98 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 13.88 16.22 Company16.16 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement 14.38 16.42 16.33 15.05 15.56 15.49 19.03 15.03 14.97

98.21 98.36 100.15 100.30 91.11 91.26 NA :Not Applicable 89.85 90.00 ^ : Market Prices 90.07 90.22 # : Floating Rate Bond ***: Deferred coupon bonds 102.84 103.14 75.05 75.35 ‡ : Bond rating under review 101.79 †: Bond 101.49 rating expired 106.01 N/A :Not105.71 Available {r} :Issuer in receivership 97.31 97.01 94.28 94.58 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 79.59Bank for Africa 79.89 UBA: United 56.73 57.03 68.00 68.30 82.03 82.33

4,838.17 4,401.40

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Agency Bonds

FMBN ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Modified Duration Buckets TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

<3 3<5

Sub-National Bonds

17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 Porfolio Market Value(Bn)

03-Apr-12 17.25 2.10 09-Dec-11 0.00/16.00 112.22 20-Apr-12FMDQ FGN 0.00/16.50 BOND INDEX 116.70 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 66.49

Total Outstanding Volume(Bn)

Weighting by Outstanding Vol

Weighting by Mkt Value

% Exposure_ Mod_Duration

Implied Yield

Implied Portfolio Price

INDEX

YTD Return (%)

838.79

828.10

26.06

28.33

297.540.26

13.48

15.00

127.9219

1,163.79

5.0498

1,453.49

1,433.72

45.12

49.09

0.45

44.56

14.91

124.9528

1,083.26

6.9816

668.44

916.07

15.35

90.8968

1,095.85

28.83

22.58

31-Aug-10 100.00

12.50 100.00

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

‡ /Agusto

*BAYELSA

‡ /Agusto

EDO

‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR Bb-/Agusto; A-/GCR

0.29

41.96

31-Aug-15 100.00

0.15 15.11

13.00

30-Sep-15

0.24

3.23

16.48

99.14

14.00

2.60

30-Jun-16

0.73

4.46

18.37

97.13

30-Jun-09

15.50

3.96

30-Jun-16

0.74

3.48

17.40

98.72

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

1.79

1.00

15.99

90.94

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

21.24

30-Jun-17

1.28

1.00

15.67

97.89

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.49

1.79

16.82

94.46

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

30.81

30-Sep-18

1.87

1.80

16.81

95.75

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

1.88

1.00

16.01

96.87

12.50 KADUNA2,960.72 31-AUG-2015

A-/Agusto BBB+/Agusto

*BENUE

‡ /Agusto

3,177.88

4.44 115.9094

15.43 1,103.76

8.8219

8.50 1.00 2.16

KADUNA Market *EBONYI

A/Agusto

297.52

Bucket Weighting

99.47 4.6036

Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015

Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049

Business | Capital Market

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015 Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at July 6, 2015 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 23 9 32

Current Price 28.99 34.00

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 2.28

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015 Diversified Industries Totals Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049

46 Symbol TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 100 60 160

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Current Price 2.66 41.06

160

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price COSTAIN

0.78

Quantity Traded 112,627 14,554 127,181

Value Traded 3,381,646.82 498,274.00 3,879,920.82

Quantity Traded 269,586 269,586

Value Traded 616,543.24 616,543.24

396,767

4,496,464.06

Quantity Traded 5,690,070 454,914 6,144,984

Value Traded 15,258,134.15 19,120,919.08 34,379,053.23

6,144,984

34,379,053.23

Quantity Traded 249,412

Value Traded 194,541.36

Page

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

No. of Deals 7

Current Price

Quantity Traded 249,412

Value Traded 194,541.36

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 48.50

Quantity Traded 87,106 87,106

Value Traded 4,108,974.00 4,108,974.00

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 24 24

Current Price 10.20

Quantity Traded 128,292 128,292

Value Traded 1,361,067.47 1,361,067.47

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 45.22 10.00

Quantity Traded 100 10,000 10,100

Value Traded 4,296.00 100,000.00 104,296.00

474,910

5,768,878.83

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS

Automobiles/Auto Parts Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015

DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049 Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

43 Symbol DUNLOP

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 11,000 11,000

Value Traded 5,500.00 5,500.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 23 53 14

Current Price 5.90 147.20 19.50

Quantity Traded 727,443 203,908 101,144

Value Traded 4,122,050.35 30,710,132.81 1,960,760.86

DailyCHAMPION Summary (Equities) GUINNESS INTBREW

Page

No. of Deals 95 185

Current Price 142.16

Quantity Traded 1,496,332 2,528,827

Value Traded 212,561,037.71 249,353,981.73

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 33 33

Current Price 194.00

Quantity Traded 79,502 79,502

Value Traded 15,299,946.73 15,299,946.73

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MULTITREX NASCON UTC

No. of Deals 33 23 47 20 1 18 2 144

Current Price 3.44 6.65 34.00 3.47 0.50 8.00 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,139,483 525,078 380,926 215,928 100 103,130 66,000 2,430,645

Value Traded 3,928,290.56 3,513,089.22 12,931,528.19 748,468.44 50.00 798,774.35 33,000.00 21,953,200.76

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 25 20 45

Current Price 35.05 850.01

Quantity Traded 56,378 40,367 96,745

Value Traded 1,886,131.48 34,304,761.20 36,190,892.68

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded 224,000 481,183

Value Traded 6,771,520.00 2,671,178.60

Food Products--Diversified Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015

CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049 NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables NIGERIAN ENAMELWARE PLC. VITAFOAM NIG PLC.

ENAMELWA VITAFOAM

1 31

30.23 5.75

Page

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Packaging/Containers

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC Packaging/Containers Totals

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

OIL AND GAS Published byExploration The Nigerian Stock Exchange © and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 56 30 86

Current Price 31.25 43.50

Quantity Traded 1,137,781 91,912 1,229,693

Value Traded 35,823,629.45 3,841,919.05 39,665,548.50

7,156,595

372,004,769.00

Current Price 5.33 4.21 22.10 1.70 26.80 2.32 2.07 4.56 9.35 2.49

Quantity Traded 30,659,234 19,961,233 2,453,008 3,211,151 5,556,826 1,782,491 1,879,570 12,105,393 133,500 2,373,365

Value Traded 163,161,694.22 84,819,718.10 53,957,909.19 5,339,930.07 148,791,731.12 4,073,167.63 3,850,353.60 55,462,254.26 1,226,576.73 5,760,494.80

Value Traded 1,772,417.13 13 4 of 226,591,295.66 754,807,542.51

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE PLC LINKAGE ASSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance TotalsEQTY Activity SummaryBanks on Board FINANCIAL SERVICES Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS © PLC

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE GNI LINKASSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE REGALINS SOVRENINS UNIVINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals 21 17 1 4 3 6 27 1 1 20 1 1 5 108

Current Price 0.95 0.96 0.50 0.51 2.83 0.50 0.72 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,046,798 1,250,000 6,000 112,500 100,000 252,000 1,642,912 2,700 1,000 4,000 1,000 11,000 65,747 6,495,657

Value Traded 2,886,238.10 1,212,898.50 3,000.00 57,375.00 283,000.00 126,000.00 1,153,601.30 1,350.00 500.00 2,000.00 500.00 5,500.00 32,873.50 5,764,836.40

Quantity Traded 25,114 25,114

Value Traded 25,616.28 25,616.28

Quantity Traded Page 4,524 4,524

Value Traded 13 5 of 2,262.00 2,262.00

Quantity Traded 353,416 37,676 6,790,617 2,625,456 13,000 5,223,337 5,250,722 20,294,224

Value Traded 967,643.72 147,358.16 54,089,527.85 7,839,263.01 6,500.00 128,496,157.55 7,127,170.65 198,673,620.94

120,683,671

959,273,878.13

Quantity Traded 271,300 131,077 87,068 307,239 536,921 105,010 1,438,615

Value Traded 275,050.00 453,245.75 3,873,454.75 465,391.47 718,402.14 228,522.00 6,014,066.11

Current Price 0.50

No. of Deals 32 6 286 43 3 75 72 517

Current Price 2.73 4.00 7.96 3.00 0.50 24.55 1.35

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 500.00 500.00

3,550

1,775.00

Current Price 21.50 11.24 41.00 11.50 170.00 4.90 104.50

Quantity Traded 101,808 2,201 34,778 174,091 315,249 110,992 251,176 990,295

Value Traded 2,185,509.66 23,506.68 1,299,769.38 1,929,607.40 53,721,921.73 543,600.00 26,061,928.50 85,765,843.35

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price

Quantity Traded 101,400

Value Traded 152,198.00

3 Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 11 5 12 19 49 3 36 135

CUTIX

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

1,808

1.50

Page Symbol

Quantity Traded 101,400

Value Traded 152,198.00

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Symbol BETAGLAS VANLEER

No. of Deals 5 1 6

Current Price 36.00 11.48

No. of Deals 17 10 12 15 27 3 84

Current Price 1.00 3.48 44.00 1.57 1.34 2.15

Page

Quantity Traded 25,525 3 25,528

Value Traded 931,666.50 36.00 931,702.50

1,117,223

86,849,743.85

146 Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 13,100 13,100

Value Traded 6,550.00 6,550.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 127 127

Current Price 15.69

Quantity Traded 1,502,916 1,502,916

Value Traded 23,555,190.29 23,555,190.29

No. of Deals 3 25 12 61 17 3 (Equities) 40 161

Current Price 0.50 40.85 2.45 192.00 148.00 50.54 157.00

Quantity Traded 9,634,702 65,875 172,673 403,140Page 55,161 410 249,673 10,581,634

Value Traded 4,817,351.00 2,465,763.67 410,408.09 76,880,102.55 13 8 of 8,192,426.39 19,688.20 39,351,333.70 132,137,073.60

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 336.05

Page Quantity Traded 92,816 92,816

13 9 of Value Traded 31,464,283.30 31,464,283.30

Symbol BECOPETRO CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS Daily Summary TOTAL

Symbol SEPLAT

309

12,190,466

187,163,097.19 Value Traded 9,939.68 9,939.68

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 8 5 13

Current Price 4.75 1.39

Quantity Traded 42,000 139,730 181,730

Value Traded 201,021.44 184,563.40 385,584.84

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC.

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,944,462 3,944,462

Value Traded 1,979,850.94 1,979,850.94

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 3.65

Quantity Traded 146,630 146,630

Value Traded 529,705.10 529,705.10

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100,000

Value Traded 50,000.00

Symbol

No. of Deals 1

Current Price

Page Quantity Traded 100,000

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 17 2 3 22

Current Price 0.95 1.25 6.03

Quantity Traded 386,796 100,000 21,500 508,296

Value Traded 363,784.82 125,000.00 124,455.00 613,239.82

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 14,000 14,000

Value Traded 7,000.00 7,000.00

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 4 20 24

Current Price 2.08 5.02

Quantity Traded 29,650 231,732 261,382

Value Traded 58,713.50 1,164,822.87 1,223,536.37

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 3.25

Quantity Traded 811,365 811,365

Value Traded 2,636,936.25 2,636,936.25

5,981,297

7,435,793.00

3,223

155,588,078

1,663,387,518.40

Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015 Support and Logistics Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049 CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals SERVICES Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

EQTY Board Totals Activity Summary on Board ASeM CONSUMER GOODS Published by The Products Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food MCNICHOLS PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol MCNICHOLS

No. of Deals 6 6

CONSUMER GOODS Totals OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Current Price 1.50

Symbol CAPOIL

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

13 10 of Value Traded 50,000.00

13 11 of Value Traded 401,360.96 401,360.96

Page Quantity Traded 280,672 280,672

280,672

401,360.96

Quantity Traded 50 50

Value Traded 25.00 25.00

25.00

ASeM Board Totals

280,722

401,385.96

Equity Activity Totals

3,230

155,868,800

1,663,788,904.36

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015 Exchange Traded Fund Totals Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049

Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 1 1 3

Current Price 10.55 2,239.00 14.93

Quantity Traded 5 53 20 78 Page

Current Price

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol

No. of Deals 5

OIL AND GAS Totals Symbol ASOSAVINGS

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

Quantity Traded 13,432 13,432

Quantity Traded 1,836,013 Page 11,912,368 93,864,152

1.05

Symbol CHAMS

Current Price 0.77

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC

Current Price 0.97 19.00

2 2

Value Traded 1,275.00 1,275.00

No. of Deals 2 2

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 20 279 1,180

NPFMCRFBK

Quantity Traded 2,550 2,550

Symbol RTBRISCOE

Employment Solutions Totals Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015 Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049 Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price

Current Price 0.50

OIL AND GAS Totals

Value Traded 93,000.00 9,535,698.60

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking WEMA BANK PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PLC ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK Banking Totals

No. of Deals 2 2

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Quantity Traded 75,000 780,183

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors BECO PETROLEUM PRODUCT PLC Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015 CONOIL PLC Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049 ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © MOBIL OIL NIG PLC.

Current Price 1.24

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 200 DIAMONDBNK 31 ETI 68 FIDELITYBK 57 GUARANTY 225 SKYEBANK 72 STERLNBANK 13 UBASummary (Equities) 140 Daily UBN 31 UNITYBNK 44

6,014,066.11

Symbol COURTVILLE

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

No. of Deals 2 34

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015 FIDELITY BANK PLC Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC

1,438,615

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol VONO

529

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/07/2015 Activity Summary on Board EQTY Printed 06/07/2015 16:27:49.049 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © INDUSTRIAL GOODS Electronic and Electrical Products Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Household Durables VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

ICT Totals

Symbol NB

HEALTHCARE HEALTHCARE Totals

Symbol

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Symbol UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) UHOMREIT UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST UPDCREIT Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Value Traded 52.75 118,667.00 298.60 119,018.35 12

Daily Summary (ETP)

ETF Board Totals

119,018.35

ETP Activity Totals

119,018.35

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

Features G

overning Nasarawa State, the Home of Solid Minerals, is a Herculean task, to put it mildly. The state considered is agrarian with about 70 per cent of the population living in the rural areas and depending on land. While the immediate past governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, his Plateau State counterpart, Jonah Jang, and a host of others owed salaries of civil servants for months, Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State began his second term in office on a clean slate without incurring any carry-over debt. This is attributed by many to the prudent management of the state lean resources, self-sacrifice and financial discipline. This also necessitated the appreciable performance of the governor during his first term in office, just as more physical development is expected in his second term. Al-Makura had told the people during a media parley to herald his swearing-in after his re-election that he was confronted with over N40 billion debt arising from unsettled contract sums and liabilities which he promptly liquidated. He said: “We are not owing any institution or bank any money as I speak with you. The N10 billion we collected to finance critical infrastructural projects in the health sector, education and commerce has also been settled. “Whether I was going to win re-election or not, I vowed within myself not to leave any debt for the incoming administration because at the end of the day it is the common man that suffers. “I want to assure the people of Nasarawa State that now that everything is in place in terms of democratic process, they should expect the consolidation of the gains we have been able to muster in the last four years. But beyond that, we intend to dispense governance with fear of God, accountability and the rule of law.’’ Determined to provide more dividends of democracy for the people, the government said it was ready to take appraisal of its activities with a view to streamlining the number of ministries (commissioners) and number of political appointments. This, according to the government, is to cut cost of governance in order to save resources in the coming years for infrastructural development.

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Prudent fund management gives Nasarawa the edge Despite governing an agrarian state, Governor Tanko Al-Makura says prudent management of resources explains success recorded by his administration in the infrastructural development of Nasarawa State and the regular payment of workers’ salaries, reports CHEKE EMMANUEL

Pupils of Ta'al Model school Bukan-Sidi Lafia welcoming guests during the inauguration of the school

Al-Makura

Al-Makura recently read the riot act to civil servants, warning them against truancy and lateness to work. He said: “Government will not condone any act of insubordination and truancy. From now henceforth, government will not hesitate to apply sanctions in accordance with civil service rules against anybody caught indulging in such act which will be also viewed as sabotage against government’s efforts.” The governor also said in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Ahmed Tukur, that the quarterly evaluation to access the performance of civil servants would be introduced in all ministries. The statement added that government would establish a desk office to handle such criminal-related matters in the civil service Al-Makura, who frowned at the attitude of some civil servants that form the habit of taking government property for personal use or taking them home, said government would henceforth treat such attitude as criminal act. He added that anyone caught

This has raised the status of Lafia from the hitherto glorified local government headquarters to a befitting state capital

Lafia Modern Market Road

would be handed to security agencies for necessary action. Analysts applauded the giant strides recorded in the last four years in the area of construction of township roads in Lafia, the state capital and semi-urban roads in the local government headquarters, building of model primary schools across the state, construction of traffic control and streets lights. Others include construction of modern markets, e-libraries and hospitals, payment of new minimum wage and the free education policy. These, the analysts said, were some of the enduring legacies of AlMakura’s administration which they linked to prudent management of resources without which the achievements would not have been recorded. “The cheering news today is that Governor Tanko Al-Makura is improving the lives of the people of the state through people-oriented projects,” a resident said. Another resident of Lafia, Babagana Abdullahi, commended the governor for making efforts to develop the state. He said: “Look at the quality of roads constructed by Al-Makura in Lafia, some of them dual-carriage ways fitted with street lights. You can see the model primary school buildings everywhere in the state, the construction of modern markets and the e-libraries and hospitals. In fact the projects are too numerous to mention.” On his own, Abari Ahmadu said the achievements recorded by AlMakura’s administration were commendable. “Look at the U.A.C-Kwandere Road. Look at the modern market road through Romantic Bakery. Look at the traffic control. These things were not there before. We can only say well done Al-Makura,” Ahmadu added.

Lafia, the state capital, is now wearing a new look as more township roads are being constructed. Some of the roads are dual-carriage ways fitted with street lights courtesy of the urban renewal programme of the government. Today, Lafia can compete with other state capitals in the country because of the high level of development of the urban infrastructure in the last four years. This has raised the status of Lafia from the hitherto glorified local government headquarters to a befitting state capital. Besides, other major towns such as Akwanga, Keffi, Karu, Awe, Nasarawa and Wamba as well as other local government headquarters which hitherto had no good roads can boast of a number of roads constructed in the first four years of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the state. In consolidating the gains of his administration, Al-Makura had informed the mammoth crowd that gathered at the Lafia Square to witness his swearing-in ceremony on May 29, 2015 that he would pay particular attention to the development of critical infrastructure in some sectors of the economy as well as ensure peace and harmonious co-existence in the state. The rural areas are not left out in the development programme of the government as several kilometres of asphalt roads have been constructed in each of the local governments in the last four years. The development also includes provision of water supply and health facilities, among others. The governor, according to him, believes that the only way the masses can feel the impact of government is to meet their infrastructural needs.

FEATURES

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Eco-friendly and challenges of new Lagos Despite public opprobrium, the Lagos State Government and its sanitation enforcement agency are determined, with zeal and genuine intension, to sustain the reforms on environmental issues, writes ISIOMA MADIKE

he Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Agency, popularly known as Task Force on Environmental Sanitation, is the unit charged with the responsibility of “addressing the problems of poor sanitary conditions and indiscriminate slum settlements and shanties in Lagos State”. It was established on November 3, 2003 by then Governor Bola Tinubu. The brigade came into being to enforce the Environmental Sanitation Law of Lagos State. Among its duties is to keep Lagos environment clean by eliminating indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised places. It was also mandated to eliminate all forms of street trading and hawking by removing vegetal nuisance and overgrown weeds around premises. It is equally empowered to kick against open defecation and urination in public place, illegal buildings or structures on drainage alignments, road setbacks and verges. Eliminating any form of environmental nuisances as well as effect a change of attitude and promote clean and hygienic culture among the people of Lagos State were part of its responsibility also. The agency, it was gathered, has made over 17,000 arrests in connection with street trading and other forms of obstruction on the major roads and streets across the state in the last three years. A source close to one of its former chairmen said: “It is the will to change the face of Lagos that kept former governor, Babatunde Fashola, working. You can’t have a mega city with a lot of chaos on the roads. “The transformation of Oshodi led to reduction in traffic. Cases of daylight robbery and even rape disappeared. Oshodi needed to change and the government had the will to make it happen. “In three years, we arrested over 17,000 people, including the under-aged and those who sleep under the bridges and along the streets. Some were tried, while others were sent to rehabilitation centres.” It is this setting that many believe Governor Akinwunmi Ambode should hit the ground running with a firm strategy on environmental issues. And for him to ensure that the tempo is sustained, many believe the governor has to “continue to enforce these laws. The new administration will need to sustain enforcement.” This, perhaps, may be why the recent appointment of Supol Akeem Adedeji as the 11th chairman of the task force has been hailed as a bold step by those who know the antecedents of the young police officer. It is believed that his appointment is a well cut out strategy as the governor is said to have decided to key into his predecessor’s vision to make Lagos an orderly society. Adedeji, a Superintendent of Police (SP), appears to be back on a familiar terrain as he is not new to this kind of assignment. He was the pioneer head of the Governor Monitoring Team (GMT), an ad-hoc security outfit in the governor’s office during the administration of Tinubu through that of Fashola. He was involved in the several battles waged by the Ministry of Physical Planning about a decade ago to restore

Oshodi, after the transformation

Ambode

Lagos to its original master plan. And his uncompromising stance on decent sanitation may have been why he was equally handed the task of turning many slums in the city to decent environs; the most noticeable being the assignment on the cleansing of the hitherto shantytown, Oshodi. This was to the delight of many who knew what that neighbourhood was like in the past. Although, critics have, in many instances, been unkind to the task force as they see the outfit as a parallel police, which, according to them, the constitution clearly prohibits. The agency, however, has managed to survive over 16 years of democratic experiment in the country. Despite public opprobrium, Adedeji, with zeal and genuine intension, tried in his own little way, to relentlessly battle against illegal sand dredgers at lagoon and sea fronts during the Fashola era. His effort is probably one of the factors that saved Lagos from what would have been an unmitigated ecological disaster at that time. This happened at a time most governors and governments were vilified with all manner of people saying many unsavoury things about them. Only a few, they say, could be found in that class of Adedeji with such commitment. He seems to fit into The Translator’s conjecture where Ward Just said, “every man had to test himself, and if he was courageous you

Adedeji

Fashola

could ask for where he grew up.” This gentle and unpretentious SP appears to be fulfilling the time-tested prophecy of Just. Important historical events are generally the product of men and opportunity. A leader appears when the stars in Heaven are in the right conjecture – at a crucial moment when a leader, and possibly the leader alone, can exert a decisive influence. The course of events may then be decided for good or evil, depending on the type of man who emerges and the environment in which he seizes the initiative. Adedeji, no doubt, is seizing this ample opportunity to show class. He has a dream: to recover the Nigerian civilisation. He is zestful and believes the problem with Nigeria is its weak institutions. He is in the public arena with an eye, along with like minds, to set the society on a part of transformation. He would not want to discuss this because of the institution he represents, though. But investigations on his behavioural proclivity are too inspiring to ignore. He does his job with utmost faith, believing in his ability to contribute to efforts to restore public confidence in public administration. A very forceful private person, whose motivation to be part of the process that will change the society for good cannot be taken for granted. Adedeji is not particular about position but about the system, and about what the Nigerian society is turning into. He said: “We don’t deserve all of these. I believe in egalitarian society where the greatest good will be made

available to the greatest number and anything short of that will just be an exercise in futility.” Those who are close to this enterprising officer from Ibadan, Oyo State, say his involvements in government psyche reform are part of his ideological orientation. He grew up believing in himself and what he can offer to his fatherland, his friends say. Adedeji is also very passionate about general reforms in the wider Nigerian society without which, he believes, the country would continue to trudge in disarray. Adedeji has, before now, documented his thoughts in the indispensability of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation. His publications include but not limited to, Strategy for an orderly society: Lagos State perspectives, (2007). His appointment comes with a challenge to emulate or even surpass the achievements of his predecessors. When this is achieved, Lagosians will be the greatest beneficiary as they can count on an officer who is operationally sound and administratively competent. Despite high expectations, there are still some challenges in the firmament. Politicians have constantly used the scrapping of the task force as a campaign issue, so much that the operation of the outfit is always put in abeyance with each pending elections. But, would Adedeji be able to turn around a task force, which existence will cease to be a campaign issue? This appears to be his real challenge, and only time will tell.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, july 7, 2015

Ebonyi LP suspended chair chides guber candidate Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

he suspended Ebonyi Labour Party Chairman, Mr. Sabastine Obyia yesterday declared that his suspension by the State Executive Council of the party (SEC) was unlawful, saying that only the national body has the right to suspend him. Obyia, while reacting to his suspension yesterday said those who claimed he has been suspended from the party were not members of the Labour Party but those recruited by the governorship candidate of the party in the last general election, Chief Edward Nkwegu. He had earlier accused the party’s gubernatorial candidate for congratulating and the PDP candidate Chief Dave Umahi in public before turning around to challenge his victory in the court, stating that such an act was an embarrassment to the party. He stated that the national leadership of the party through the Legal Adviser had resolved to write-off the name of the party from the petition filed by various candidates that ran under the party in the last general election including that of the governorship candidate, Chief Edward Nkwegu on discovery that they had joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tribunal begins pre-hearing in Kalu’s petition today Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he Abia State election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia, will today begin pre-hearing into the petition filled by the former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, against the declaration of Hon Mao Ohuabunwa, as winner of the Abia North senatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The matter was last week consolidated with that of the All Progressives Grand

Umuahia

bia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has said that the commercial city of Aba would be broken into six zones for effective refuse disposal saying that the present situation in which the refuse take over major roads was embarrassing and unacceptable. Governor Ikpeazu dropped the hint yesterday in an interaction with journalists in the state even as he also disclosed that the city would be made the hub of small and medium scale industries in the country. He said the government would anchor its programmes on five pillars of Trade and Commerce, Education, Oil and Gas, which he said would impact all aspects of the state development includ-

Alliance (APGA) candidate in the last election, Dr. David Ogba Onuoha-Bourdex. The Tribunal yesterday handled the prehearing of Onuoha-Bourdex against Ohuabunwa, while the pretrial is expected to also begin today. Counsel to Kalu, Mr. Prefect Okorie, said that the lead counsel would be in court for the pre-hearing, even as he explained that the consolidation of the petitions was for speedy dispensation and to save time. He said that the consolidation would not affect the matter as the matter would be heard together with sep-

arate judgments. In the matter between Onuoha-Bourdex and Mao Ohuabunwa, counsel to the petitioner, Chief Chris Uche, told the tribunal that all the parties have submitted their issues for determination, saying that what remained was evidence, cross examination and time for the respondents and petitioners to present their cases. He argued that the matter should not be prolonged unnecessarily, saying that the matter should continue today in order to conclude within the time allotted by the constitution for prehearing.

However counsel to Ohuabunwa, Mike Onyeka and INEC, Livy Uzoukwu, pleaded for more time to prepare their responses. But after listening to arguments from both parties the tribunal adjourned the matter to July 7. In adjourning the matter, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Adeniyi Adegbanjo, said that for the purposes of exigency the tribunal would marry three issues of the competence of the petition and whether the petitioner ought not to be declared winner, saying that the remaining pretrial issues would also be handled today.

Ebonyi, EEDC to partner on security of facility Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

he Ebonyi State Government and the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company(EEDC), have entered into a partnership on the issue of security to bring to an end the persistent vandalisation of the company's property. This was made known when the Managing Director and Chief Executive officer of the company incharge of the South-East zone, Mr. Robert Dickerman, paid a courtesy call on the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, at the Government House Abakaliki. Dickerman who stated that they were in the state to chat a way forward on how to improve the electricity distribution to consumers soon noted that the vandalisation of cable, transformer and other property of the company were attributed to the epileptic power supply in the entire state especially in the rural areas. According to him "In recent times, we have done well in Ebonyi State. We know what the consumers are passing through."

Ugwuanyi seeks communities’ cooperation over revenue L-R: Senior Special Adviser, Media to Abia State governor, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezuo; Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Godwin Adindu; Abia state Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and Deputy chief of staff ,Elder John Nwagborogwu, during maiden world press conference in Umuahia…yesterday

Ikpeazu orders Aba delineation into six zones for refuse disposal Igbeaku Orji

News 47

south - east

ing infrastructure and unemployment. According to the governor, biometric capturing would continue for civil servants in order to check the recurrent incidences of ghost workers saying that a situation in which civil servants who are 5% of the population of the state consume 95 per cent of the state resources would not continue. On the salary arrears owed workers he said that only core civil servants were owed two months salaries. He said that the government agencies and institutions like the university, college and polytechnic were financially autonomous and should be able to account for the increase in fees or justify why government should continue to give subvention to them when they generate their revenue.

Anambra: Reactions trail transfer of Boko Haram detainees Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

arely two weeks after the relocation of the suspected Boko Haram detainees to Ekwulobia Prison in Aguata Anambra State, a cross section of the people of the state have continued to speak in condemnation of the ugly development In his reaction, Senator Alphonsus Igbeke (Ubanese) former member representing Onitsha North senatorial district in the senate said, the relocation of the suspects to the state was an ill-conceived, saying it would create room for infiltration of the prisons in the region by the terror suspects which could escalate terrorism in Nigeria.

He said that the continuous silence over the matter by the authority was not palatable and unacceptable to the people and called on the Federal Government or the prison authorities to come out with a definite public statement on the issue before the situation degenerate beyond control. Dr. Jude AP Okoli, National President Anambra State Association of Town Union described the development as the height irresponsibility on the part of the prison authority. Okolo further re-assured the people of Anambra that the communities within the state will not fold its hand and watch their state, life and property being threatened by terrorist, assuring that all legitimate means would be exhausted to sought

out the matter. He recalled that several families of Anambra State origin living in the Northern part of the country were slaughtered, maimed, and had their property destroyed by insurgency and instead of sympathizing with the government and people of Anambra, the Buhari government went ahead to relocate Boko Haram convicts and detainees to the state to unleash terror and brigandage on the innocent people’’, he noted. A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and a onetime governorship aspirant in Anambra State, Chief O. Anigbata (Ezekwueche), however, observed that measure taken by the Federal Government was rather a security strategy, to move them away from their colleagues.

overnor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, has urged indigenes of Awgu Local Government Area of the state to cooperate with the government in its effort to boost its revenue generation drive through massive investment in agriculture. The governor made the appeal while receiving a delegation of a sociopolitical group known as Save Awgu Forum Enugu (SAFE), led by its leader, Prince Chris Baywood Ibe, on a solidarity visit to the governor. He commended the people of the area for their prayers and support before, during and after the election, stressing that they were among those that could make his dream to govern the state successfully possible. Ugwuanyi noted that the cooperation of the indigenes, especially cluster-adjoining host communities would go a long way to assist his administration in achieving its set objectives for the San Carlos farm settlement located in their area.

48 News

south - south

tuesday, july 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Rivers community demands N100bn from AGIP Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he Rivers State community that experienced triple explosions last week, Ebeocha, has demanded a N100 billion compensation from the Italian oil giant, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), alleging that the incident was caused by Agip’s failure to maintain its equipment. The community’s elders, who made the demand after assessing the extent of the fire and its effect on the community, said the community had been devastated by the explosion, and that there was need for Agip to compensate them. They made the demand after a failed joint inspection comprising of the people of the community, regulatory bodies, such as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Ministry of Environment, Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Area, and Agip officials. The inspection did not take place due to the different positions of the stakeholders on how to address the situation.

First Bank N100bn suit: Court adjourns to July 15 Gabriel Choba Ughelli

he Chief Judge of the National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Awka, Hon. Justice Waziri Abali, has adjourned to July 15, 2015, the N100 billion suit filed against First Bank Limited by its former staff, Mr. Tennyson Ikpi, in suit No. NICN/AWK/13/2015, through Festus Keyamo Chambers, following the indefinite termination of his appointment. Ikpi sued First Bank Nigeria Limited through Festus Keyamo Chambers over his indefinite suspension and termination from duty without adherence to the strict provisions of his employment and international best practices. The suit, which was filed at the National Industrial Court sitting at Awka with suit No: NICN/ AWK/13/2015, prayed the court to award the sum of N100 billion against First Bank of Nigeria for damages suffered by him, as a result of this unlawful action.

Representative of the Bayelsa State Governor, Adm. John Jonah (left), with Mala Sasimethe Obenibe XI of Epie Kingdom, during the new yam festival by the people of Epie Kingdom in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State…at the weekend

Edo judicial workers suspend strike Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

orkers in the Edo State judiciary under the umbrella of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) have suspended their seven months old strike. The workers have embarked on indefinite

strike over the refusal of the state government to obey the order of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which granted financial autonomy to the judiciary in the country. Some states have since complied with the court order and commenced implementation. The National Legal Adviser of the body, Mr. Patrick Nnamani, in a statement jointly signed

with the state Chairman of JUSUN, Comrade Uyi Ogieriakhi, said the suspension was to allow stakeholders the opportunity to evolve strategies for the government to pay the workers their seven months’ arrears of salaries. The statement also said the union suspended the strike because “the governor has directed that the recurrent

expenditure of the state judiciary be released to the heads of courts with concrete assurances that the governor will pay the salary arrears of judiciary workers and that no staff will be victimised.” JUSUN said the workers called off the strike following the intervention of some judges, clerics, top hierarchy of Benin palace chiefs, the

state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice as well as leaders of organised labour. The judicial workers have therefore been directed to resume work tomorrow. According to the statement, “Consequently, all members of JUSUN Edo State are hereby directed to resume work on Wednesday, July 8, 2015,” the statement said.

UCTH CMD begs doctors Sacked workers chide Okowa on governance to return to work Dominic Adewole

No going back to creek, ex-militants assure Buhari

Calabar

Ughelli

Clement James

he Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Dr. Thomas Agan, yesterday appealed to striking resident doctors of the hospital to return to work as the management was doing all it can to meet their demands. Agan made the appeal in Calabar while briefing journalists on the situation in the hospital since the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) went on strike last week. He said although the striking doctors had given management a 21day ultimatum before embarking on strike, he had made efforts to avert it, but was constrained by inadequate funds. The CMD, who acknowledged that the issue of welfare of doctors has remained a challenge to succeeding governments, said most of the challenges come from non-release of overhead cost by the Federal Government and urged the doctors to

reconsider their position in the interest of the patients. “The resident doctors are demanding for sponsorship arrears, utility arrears and skipping for doctors. We acknowledge that these are genuine demands, but these issues have to do with funding and we are waiting for the Federal Government to release funds and give us directive on what to do,” Agan said. He said the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the hospital was quite low because, according to him, the hospital is the cheapest in the country, noting that once all the fees collected in the hospital are reviewed upward, the hospital will be in a position to fund some aspects of the demand. “The internally generated revenue is far less than what people think and this is because this hospital is about the cheapest in the country. Unfortunately, overhead funding has been dropping and only N9 million was released recently as overhead by the Federal Government,” Agan explained.

ASABA

acked civil servants in Delta State yesterday chided Governor Ifeanyi OKowa over acts of governance, urging him to go and learn the rudiments of good governance from his counterpart in Kaduna State, Malam Nashiru El-Rufai, who articulated his vision for his state within 30 days in office. The workers, under the auspices of the Congress of Newly Employed Civil Servants, wondered why the governor transferred his anger on them after following due process in securing their jobs. While they claimed that they did not buy job slots as announced by the governor on his assumption of office, they urged him to travel to Kaduna to borrow a leaf. The protesters numbering 3, 000 in a statement co-signed by their Chairman, Mr. Regha Obus, Secretary, Mr. Agba Okeme and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Henry Nwokolo in Asaba yesterday, lamented that after submitting themselves to

rigorous screening and scaled through all the stages of the recruitment process, the governor, who they said promised prosperity, resumed office with a sledgehammer. The protesters said: “The commission advertised; we applied; we were shortlisted for interview, which we passed and appointment letters were given, which we graciously accepted with the intention of serving our state. “Most of us resigned from our previous jobs to accept the civil service offer. Those who bought their slots and the sellers should be exposed if the government is not corrupt and those of us who are from Delta should be allowed to go back to work,” they said. According to them, injecting fresh blood into the civil service is not only necessary, but a means of tackling unemployment in the state. “We discovered that since 2010 till our recruitment on April 20, 2015 there had been vacancies in the service and this is a generational gap that is against the civil service rule."

Gabriel Choba

ormer militants from the Niger Delta states yesterday reassured President Muhammadu Buhari that they will not return to the creeks, saying there would no longer be pipeline vandalism now and throughout his administration. They said the decision was in line with the slogan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ‘Change’ to give room to the new administration to bring his transformation agenda to bear on all sectors of the country. The former militants, who spoke in their different dialects and was translated into English language, gave this assurance during a meeting convened by their leader, Bibi Oduku, whom they all referred to as the only gateway to relative peace in the region. One of the leaders, Peter Johntogo, who spoke on behalf of other ex-militants, commended Oduku for standing out tall to organise the former militants to look beyond violence, and say no to violence, kidnapping and other vices.

NEW TELEGRAPH tuesday, july 7, 2015

News 49

south north - south

El-Rufai abolishes joint account in Kaduna Ibrahem Musa Kaduna

aduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday abolished the joint accounts being operated with local government councils in the state just as he promised that the state government will be remitting 10 per cent of all Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to local government councils. The governor made the pledge in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, after inaugurating the chairmen of the Interim Management Committees of the state’s 23 local government councils yesterday. He also warned the chairmen against residing outside their local government areas. He advised that anyone of them who cannot live in his local government should vacate the office. The statement quoted El-Rufai as saying that the chairmen have no

Adamawa asks FG for N23bn to repair institutions Ibrahim Abdul Yola

damawa State gover nment yesterday said it will present President Muhammadu Buhari with a N23 billion bill needed to repair damaged public institutions destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents in the state. The governor had earlier told the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, during his one-day visit that N200 billion would be needed to restore normalcy in the affected areas. In his presentation to the state governor at the Government House, Yola, the leader of the ad-hoc committee, Mr. Ibrahim Emmanuel, who is also the Permanent Secretary (Political) to the Governor, told the governor that the said amount only covered the cost of reinvigorating public institutions in the state, adding that he did not factor costs of personal lost incurred by the affected people. Receiving the report, Governor Jibrilla Bindowo, said it is of utmost importance to the state, especially as it was borne out the Federal Government's desire to bring back to life the destroyed public institutions.

excuse to fail. “Perform and bring real development to our state at the local government level,” he charged them. The governor recalled that while he was campaigning for the office of governor, he had promised not to withhold local government funds if elected. “I am using this occasion to fulfil my campaign promise,” he added.

“Therefore, I am happy to inform you that the government under our watch has formally abolished joint account in Kaduna State, there will be no more holding of local government funds under the pretence of joint account. “Added to this, I also wish to inform you that the government will do its best to be remitting 10

per cent of the state's Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to the local government areas of our dear state. Like I said, we must deliver; we can't let our people down,” he said. The governor warned the new chairmen to take security matters seriously and partner with traditional rulers and religious leaders and the entire stakeholders.

“Don’t be arrogant to your people; you are assigned to serve them and nothing more than that. We will not hesitate to call you to order if you think you will play with our people and the trust vested in you,” he reminded them. El-Rufai also reminded them that they were not appointed “because of your religion, ethnicity

or where you come from. You have been appointed to work and bring positive changes to the people.” The governor asked the interim local government chairmen to submit within two weeks a list of government assets such as schools and hospitals that have been encroached on by trespassers.

Group accuses El-Rufai of marginalisation Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed (left), being presented with souvenir by the Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme, Mr. Femi Akingbade, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Ilorin...yesterday.

Group condemns attacks Lalong sacks 17 council on worship centres chairmen Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

he Jamatu Nasir Islam (JNI) has called on the Federal Government to carry out a thorough investigation on the recent serial attacks on worship centres in Maiduguri, Potiskum and Jos in the NorthEast. In a statement issued yesterday by Dr. Khalid Aliyu, the Secretary

General of JNI, the Islamic body, described the attacks as barbaric. “For the avoidance of doubts, these repeated acts are evil, ungodly and of course have no basis in Islam,” the statement added. JNI also commiserated with the Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Plateau and Zamfara State governments and the respective families of the affected victims of the evil acts.

Ishaku swears in special advisers Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

araba State governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, yesterday swornin two newly appointed Special Advisers in the state. The advisers are Haruna Gbana and Alhaji Abubakar Bawa, and will serve as special advisers on legal and legislative matters as well as political matters. After taking the oath of office at the executive chambers of the Government House in Jalingo,

by the Chief Judge of the state, Mrs. Josephine Tuktur, Governor Ishaku charged them to carry out their duties diligently with all the responsibilities their offices demand. Meanwhile, Ishaku yesterday received traditional rulers at the Government House, who paid him a congratulatory visit. The Chairman of Taraba State Council of Chiefs, Angyu Shekarau, the Aku-Uka told the governor that they were at Government House to congratulate him over his victory and subsequent inauguration.

Musa Pam Jos

lateau State governor, Simon Bako Lalong, yesterday sacked all the seventeen local government council chairmen in the state. Lalong in a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Mr. Samuel Emmanuel Nanle and made available to New Telegraph yesterday in Jos, said the governor in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Edict establishing the Local Government Council Administration in the state, has approved the dissolution of the seventeen local government councils in the state. The statement also directed all chairmen of the dissolved council areas, members of the executive arm of government, councilors and other political appointees to hand over all government property in their possession to the Directors of Personnel Management (DPMs) of the 17 local councils in the state.

The governor also urged security operatives in the various local governments, particularly the DPOs and members of the various labour unions in the local governments to ensure that all government property is secured in the custody of the DPMs in line with the directive. Meanwhile, Governor Lalong has approved the appointment of Mrs. Hulda Fwangchi, as the head of the civil service in the state. Until her appointment, Fwangchi was a Permanent Secretary with the Plateau State government and she replaces Mr. Ezekiel Dalyop, who until now was the Head of Service in the state. Lalong thanked all members of the dissolved council areas and the former Head of Service (HoS) for their selfless service and wish them the best in their future endeavour. The governor, however, further assures the outgoing chairmen that their wealth of experience would be relied upon as time and opportunity avails in the course of governance.

he people of Gbagyi ethnic group in Kaduna State have accused Governor Nasir El-Rufai of marginalisation. To drive home their grievances against the government, angry youths yesterday protested in the state, blocking major roads leading to the secretariat of Chikun Local Government. The protesters were kicking against the appointment of Hajiya Hadiza Yahuza as interim chairman of the local government. According to reports, one of the protesters was shot and was rushed to an unknown hospital for treatment. Some other persons allegedly sustained injuries, just as several vehicles were destroyed in the process. It will be recalled that last week, the state Chairman of Gbagyi youths organisation, Amos Isah and another leader, Yakubu Waziri, had demanded explanation from their representative at the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Markus Zarmai Yari, on why Hajiya Hadiza should be appointed to head the local government that is predominantly populated by Gbagyi people. “The governor’s appointment of a nonindigene, a woman and a Muslim as our local government chairman is deliberate and is meant to provoke us, why did he not send a Christian and a woman to Zaria, Makarfi or Sabon Gari as chairman if he is sincere,” one of the protesters queried. Yesterday's protest caused a long gridlock around at the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) Junction, according to eye witness accounts. But heavily armed policemen loaded in over 10 Hilux vehicles were immediately deployed to the troubled area to disperse the protesting youths.

50 WORLD | News

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Thousands camp out for Pope's first mass in Ecuador

amped on streets with sleeping bags and stocked with food supplies, thousands of excited Ecuadoreans congregated in the coastal city of Guayaquil yesterday for Pope Francis' first mass of his "homecoming" tour of South America. On the first full day of his three nation trip, the Argentine born pontiff was heading south from Quito to Ecuador's second city, a steamy port sometimes referred to as the world's "banana capital," given its bus-

tling fruit trade. "It's going to be a very special day which I'll share with those I love," said Silvia Flores, a 43 year old doctor waiting on the streets. "We're all brothers in Christ." After the mass, Francis was due to go to a local Jesuit run school to visit an old friend he has not seen in three decades, the cigarsmoking Rev. Francisco Cortes. When he was a seminary director in Argentina, Francis, then Father Jorge Bergoglio, would send seminarians to the school to study theology with Cortes, now a diminutive 91 year old

Spaniard affectionately known as "Father Paquito." The pope's visit to Guayaquil takes on special significance for Ecuador, and its leftist President Rafael Correa, given it has been the epicenter of anti-government protests for weeks. Thousands have been taking to the streets in Guayaquil and elsewhere to protest tax changes and alleged state authoritarianism. Correa says the reforms will only affect the super wealthy and accuses his foes of seeking a coup d'etat. Protest leaders have called a moratorium during the pope's

visit, and Francis used his arrival speech on Sunday to call for dialogue and respect for differences. "We're excited about this visit despite the conflict that Ecuador is going through right now," said Juan Campuzano, a 45 year old secondary school teacher in Guayaquil. "Hopefully everything will work out in an orderly manner and this visit will be productive in restoring faith and love." As the pope rode into the capital Quito from the airport on Sunday afternoon, some onlookers booed and jeered government officials behind his

motorcade. Yesterday, young people with guitars and drums serenaded the pope as he left the Papal Nunciature's residence in Quito en route to the airport outside the city. Hundreds applauded as he smiled and blessed well-wishers. The colonial era city of Guayaquil is also the departure point for the Galapagos Islands, where Charles Darwin began to formulate his ideas on evolution. After Ecuador, the pope heads to Bolivia and Paraguay on a tour encompassing three of the region's poorest and smallest countries.

Burundi's leader campaigns as region calls for poll delay

urundi's embattled president skipped key regional talks yesterday to campaign for a controversial third term amid renewed rebel threats and international calls to delay the vote. The crisis in the central African nation revolves around President Pierre Nkurunziza's third-term bid, which his opponents say is unconstitutional and violates a peace deal that brought an end to a dozen years of civil war in 2006. Leaders of the five-nation East African Community (EAC) had been due to meet Monday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, but Nkurunziza instead sent his foreign minister.

Kenya and Rwanda were also represented at the ministerial level, leaving host Jakaya Kikwete and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni the only presidents in attendance. The bloc called for elections to be delayed by two weeks, from July 15 to July 30. EAC Secretary General Richard Sezibera said Museveni would now lead regional efforts to strike a deal after weeks of unrest, and a delay would allow him time "to lead the dialogue". Nkurunziza has previously dismissed all previous calls for postponements, but Foreign Minister Alain Aime Nyamitwe said the EAC request would be referred to "highest authority."

Greek's â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;no' vote; shocks US, European markets l Greek Finance Minister quits

tocks in the US slipped in midday trading yesterday, while markets in Europe and Asia sank following a Greek vote that overwhelmingly rejected terms of the country's latest bailout package. US government bond prices rose as investors sought safe places to park money. Oil drillers and other energy companies fell as the price of oil dropped 5 percent. The market declines were not as bad as many had feared, something analysts are crediting to the resignation of the Greek finance minister, which might help bailout talks resume. The International Monetary Fund has also pledged to help the country if asked. In Sunday's referendum on creditor proposals, 61 percent of Greeks voted "no," a much higher proportion than anticipated. Many in the markets fear that the decision has pushed Greece one step closer to leaving the euro. Greece's banks may soon run out of money and the country could be forced to issue its own currency. A so-called "Grexit" from the euro is considered to be one of the biggest risks facing the global economy.The Dow Jones industrial average fell 28 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,702 as of 12:27 p.m. Eastern time.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index gave up three points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,073. The Nasdaq composite fell 11 points, or 0.2 percent, to 4,998. Meanwhile, Greece's combative finance minister resigned yesterday, removing one major obstacle to any deal to keep Athens in the euro zone after Greeks voted resoundingly to back the government in rejecting the austerity terms of a bailout. Leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras promised German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Greece would bring a proposal for a cash-for-reforms deal to an emergency summit of euro zone leaders Tuesday, a Greek official said. It was unclear how much it would differ from other proposals rejected in the past. Gloomy officials in Brussels and Berlin said a Greek exit from the currency area now looked ever more likely. But they also said talks to avert it would be easier without Yanis Varoufakis, an avowed "erratic Marxist" economist who infuriated fellow euro zone finance ministers with his casual style and indignant lectures. He had campaigned for Sunday's 'No' vote, accusing Greece' creditors of "terrorism".

Pope Francis greeting a crowd from the Popemobile in Quito, Ecuador

Tutu renews vows after 60 years in wedlock

etired archbishop Desmond Tutu, affectionately known to many South Africans as "Arch," kissed his bride of 60 years, Leah. The lovebirds, as one clergyman described them, renewed their 1955 wedding vows this weekend in a buoyant ceremony in which 83-year-old Tutu, slower of step and speech than during his years as an impassioned opponent of apartheid, sashayed stiffly near the altar. Arms outstretched, he bent low as choristers belted out song in the Holy Cross Anglican Church in the Soweto area of Johannesburg. The three hour celebration on Saturday was a kind

of homecoming for Tutu, who used to live near the church in a district that became a crucible for resistance to the white minority rule that ended in 1994. It was also a contemplation of love, marriage and family that ended with the Tutus' four children and other relatives surrounding the elderly couple. "You can see that we followed the biblical injunction: We multiplied and we're fruitful," Tutu told the congregation. "But all of us here want to say thank you . We knew that without you, we are nothing." The humor and humility were Tutu trademarks. For

decades, he has charmed, cajoled and beseeched on matters of unity, forgiveness and good and evil, comparable to the moral stature of the late Nelson Mandela, a prisoner during white rule, a fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate and South Africa's first black president. Tutu still speaks up even though he announced his retirement from public life in 2011. "He's one of the people now who represent the conscience of the nation," Thabo Mbeki, a former South African president who attended the Tutu ceremony, told The Associated Press.

Iranian nuclear deal set to make hardline Revolutionary Guards richer

ran's elite Revolutionary Guards have done very well out of international sanctions and if a nuclear deal is done in Vienna this week under which those sanctions are lifted, they are likely to do better still. The Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), created by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini during Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, is more than just a military force. It is also an industrial empire with political clout that has grown exponentially in the last decade, benefiting from the favor of

former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, himself a former guardsman and, most recently, from the opportunities created by Western sanctions. A Western diplomat who follows Iran closely told Reuters that the IRGC's recent annual turnover from all of its business activities was estimated to be around $10-12 billion. Iranian officials refuse to reveal the IRGC's market share, but $12 billion would be around a sixth of Iran's declared GDP, at current exchange rates. "They control major companies, and businesses in Iran

such as tourism, transportation, energy, construction, telecommunication and Internet," said an Iranian official in Tehran who asked not to be named. "Lifting sanctions will boost the economy; it will help them to gain more money." It was the IRGC, unquestioningly loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that suppressed student protests in 1999 and also silenced the proreform protests that followed Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election in 2009. That year, a company affiliated to the IRGC bought the state-run telecoms company for about $8 billion.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JULY 7, 2015

The report that nailed Keshi

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Adeolu Johnson Abuja

here is no end to the controversy surrounding the new deal signed between the Nigeria Football Federation and kitmanufacturing outfit, NIKE. Tongues have been wagging over the contract described as a “slave deal” by some Nigerians who felt something was suspicious going by its worth. The job of a top shot of the Marketing Department of the soccer house has been on the line since the deal was done. According to our source, the marketing head had been requested to relocate to the Liaison Office in Lagos, while there are plans to advertise the position. His sin was in revealing that the department was not consulted by NFF President Amaju Pinnick before the deal was consummated. New Telegraph learnt that when the officer sent an advisory note to Pinnick and some top members of the board against signing the Nike contract, it was ignored. According to our source, some groundwork had been done in September 2014 before the present board came in. The communication between the federation and NIKE suggested a keen interest on the part of the American company to do business, even as the NIKE agent maintained that the federation must make a ‘dramatic’ cut in what it was proposing for them to start talking. “They (Pinnick’s board) came

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Sport Editor

Serena wins battle of sisters

Did you know? That the last time Lionel Messi won a trophy for Argentina was against Nigeria in 2005 in a 2-1 final defeat of the Flying Eagles at the World Youth Championship

Controversy still trails NFF’s NIKE contract and hijacked the contract negotiations without knowing the foundation that has been laid. They sidelined the marketing department because the NIKE representative was not comfortable they had a stronger bargaining power, they went and made the federation look like a cheap commodity. The marketing department had insisted in a memo that the contract was not good for the federation and Nigerians whom we represent,” noted the source. But NFF boss, Pinnick, has said that he negotiated the contract from a point of weakness. One of the reasons he gave for signing the deal was that the Super Eagles did not qualify for the 2015 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. Another was that the federation was mired in deep crisis. “We have been doing a lot of repairs, I tell you a lot of repairs,” the source said. “And one thing that comes to mind is that whenever we want to interface with people, before you say one thing about Nigeria, they tell you 20 things about us and most of them negative, that our team is not saleable like before and so forth,” he explained. The three-and-half-year contract signed in London recently was expected to mark a memorable return to business for one of Africa’s football powerhouses. The new deal amounts to $2.75 million, with no cash attached to it as it goes into kit supply to the various national teams only. The first year would see Nike supply kits

Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala (left) in action against Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl

worth $750,000, increasing to $1 million in the second year. If the record of the first NIKE contract with the NFA now NFF is correct, the total package amounted to about $625,000 with 20 per cent of the deal going to the agent. The rest cover cost of kit supply to all national teams, support for youth development, royalty and sundry charges. When this is compared with the first contract done by its agent Noel Okorogu after

the USA 1994 World Cup, it is obvious that the old one was far more lucrative. Reacting on the matter, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said the news making rounds that the Director of Marketing had been redeployed to Lagos Liaison office was a rumour that had been on for more than three months. “There is no iota of truth in it,” he said. He disclosed that he was in London with the NFF team to

sign the new contract but was not part of the bargaining as that was done by the former General Secretary. Sanusi explained that there was nothing shady about the deal as NIKE is a very big and reputable organisation. The Director of Marketing Idris Adama also denied been posted to Lagos over any matter, stressing that if even there is a move to that effect he is not afraid because it is a public position.

Leave me alone, Keshi tells NFF, others

Ifeanyi Ibeh

Adekunle Salami

Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

Keshi

ormer Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, whose contract with the Nigeria Football Federation was terminated at the weekend, has urged the NFF and other stakeholders in the game to leave him alone. Keshi stated on Monday that he should be allowed to enjoy his peace now that the

NFF had sacked him He argued that his name had always been on the lips of many Nigerian’s whether the Eagles did well or not in a match or competition. He said: “It has always been Keshi, Keshi, Keshi and now I think it’s time to rest and enjoy my peace. You people (NFF and others) should leave me alone now that am no longer the

coach of the national team. “Focus should be on Salisu Yusuf and how he will be winning games for the team. People should leave Keshi alone. Enough is enough.” The NFF terminated Keshi’s contract at the weekend following ‘actions and inactions’ the body tagged as being contrary to the vision of the current board of the NFF.

Sport

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

The report that nailed Keshi An extract from the report of the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation which was used to terminate the appointment of former Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi. ELUCIDATION OF FINDINGS It may appear that the contract of employment entered between the NFF and Stephen Keshi is silent on whether during the subsistence of the contract Stephen Keshi could apply for another coaching job i.e with FIF (Cote d’Ivore Football Federation)? It is the view of this committee that the contract which commenced on 1/03/15 to end on 28/02/17 is for a 2 term certain. It is a contract for a continuous period of 2 years wherein he is expected to qualify Nigeria in the CHAN 2016 and AFCON 2017. The above suggest that at no point that this contract envisage or contemplate Stephen Keshi applying for another job within the subsistence of the two years. Invariably, there is an implied condition that Stephen Keshi cannot seek another job or greener pasture while the contract subsists without disclosing same to the NFF for its consent. CLAUSE 9, contemplate good faith from both parties in to achieve the overall objective of the contract which is for Stephen Keshi to get Nigeria to take part, qualify and play Semifinal of CHAN 2016 and AFCON 2017. Good faith requires being honest and open to the NFF. Stephen Keshi’s conduct did not suggest good faith to give life to the objective of the contract which he executed thus making the contract voidable. CLAUSE 10.2.4 provided that Stephen Keshi shall not during the pendency of this contract engage in any business of sort. This is to enable him to dedicate his time to the objective of this contract as well as avoid conflict of interest. “That he shall not engage in any other service or business whatsoever during the term of his employment and shall unless prevented by ill-health devote all his time and attention to the service of the NFF as may be necessary for the proper exercise of his duties.” This is bad enough that he took steps and applied for coaching job with FIF after he had entered into a contract of employment with the NFF. It is even worse when his name was published by FIF amongst 58 other candidates. It must be noted that Stephen Keshi did not deny his agent. In law a disclosed principal is liable for acts and conduct of his agent. Even if it were a personal engagement the contract requires consent of the NFF but this is not the case. “...All such personal endorsements shall however be subject to the concur-

Stephen Keshi cannot seek another job or greener pasture while the contract subsists without disclosing same to the NFF for its consent.

rence, approval and consent of the NFF first hand and obtained”. Stephen Keshi’s act and conduct can be best described as one of insubordination against the NFF and Nigeria as a whole. From the way he is going it is evident that he will abandon the NFF when he is needed the most and go for greener pastures thus will not discharge his duties. 5.6.1 Ensure that the Super Eagles qualify and play in at least the semifinals of the African Nations Championship (CHAN ) 2016. 5.6.2. Ensure that the Super Eagles qualify and play in at least the semifinals of the African Cup of Nations 2017. By the above clause, he has irrevocably bind himself and to dedicate all his time and energy to the NFF activities that will lead to achieving the above conditions of his employment rather than using his time and energy searching for greener pastures against the tenure of his contract. The implication of clause 5.6.1 & 2 is that he is bound to the NFF until he discharged the above responsibility and not to go looking for a coaching job elsewhere. Gentlemen keep to their agreement and will put national interest first. The said application has indeed put Nigeria in odium and public ridicule thus: Nigeria cannot pay him hence he is looking for another job; Nigeria is a responsible football nation and this is setting a bad precedent if it is allowed to continue. GABRIEL OKECHUKWU It was established by the Technical and Development Committee as well as the Technical Study Group that Gabriel OKECHUKWU was brought into the Super Eagles by Stephen Keshi without consultation with them. For purposes of elucidation Clause 5.4 of the contract states “ The Head Coach shall select the best crop of players of the Super Eagles who are ready to excel in friendly and competitive games in consultation with the Technical Committee and the Technical Study Group of the NFF”. It is true that the Head Coach in this case Stephen Keshi has a duty to discover young talents but such young talents must have played or are playing in either a local league or leagues abroad. In the case of OKECHUKWU he hasn’t any such record yet he was given the coveted No. 10 shirt. This is indeed a violation of the contract and a deliberate ploy to grand stand the NFF which is unacceptable. 5.8 The Head Coach shall on assumption of duties embark on discovery of new talented players both from the local league and other leagues abroad. If Okechukwu did not and does not play for any known league locally or internationally, then the only probable and safe conclusion why Keshi brought him to the Super Eagles is for personal interest or on the basis of ethnicity or religious lines which is a grave violation of the code of conduct for coaches in schedule 1 of the contract. ( b ) Coaches must not take decision based on personal interest e.g. collecting gratifications, insisting on becoming players, managers or players’ agents. ( c ) Coaches must not use ethnic or religious criteria for evaluating.

Keshi

CONCLUSION 1. Stephen Keshi by his conduct and or that of his agent is not capable of achieving the objectives set out under Clause 5.6 of the contract of employment. 2. He has also breached the provision of Clause 10.2.4 of the contract of employment by engaging in any other business of soliciting or looking for greener pasture while he has not delivered on 5.6.

3. He is in breach of clauses 5.4 and 5.8 of the contract of employment which violates schedule one of the contract i.e ( b ) and ( c ) as above. RECOMMENDATION We recommend that the Head Coach Mr. Stephen Keshi is in breach of the contract of employment hence same has become voidable. His contract should be terminated summarily in conformity with Clause 4.3 of the contract.

Sport

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY JULY 7, 2015

Paris Diamond League excites Okagbare-Ighoteguonor Emmanuel Tobi

igerian and African sprint queen Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor has expressed delight after racing home in 10.80 seconds to come a close second behind Jamaican star, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, in the women’s 100 metres at the Paris Diamond League on Saturday. Fraser-Pryce stopped the clock in 10.74 seconds-the fastest time in the world this year-as she led from the sound of the gun to the very end, winning ahead of Okagbare, 10.80, and American English Gardner, 10.97. “Blessed day at work today (Saturday).I want to thank my family, friends and fans for always

Keshi sacking

Eagles need a foreign coach, says Bonfrere

giving me the courage to aim higher,” Okagbare-Ighoteguonor said. “Their love, support, messages and prayers are highly appreciated. God has been faithful to me in all ways and I am forever grateful,” she added. Incidentally, Fraser-Pryce also beat Okagbare in Paris two years ago, although the race was even closer than this one. Fraser-Pryse won that 2013 race in 10.92 seconds, while Okagbare did 10.93 seconds. Okagbare’s African record and her personal best is the 10.79 seconds she set in London in 2013 and Saturd’s time is now her second fastest ever. Saturday’s sub-11 seconds run was remarkably Okagbare’s career.

he former Nigeria senior national team handler Johannes Bonfrere has made a passionate call to the NFF to appoint a foreign coach as next Super Eagles’ coach. Stephen Keshi was shown the exit door by the Nigeria Football Federation on Saturday evening for lack of commitment to achieve the federation’s objectives. The Dutchman who led the country’s U23 football team to win the 1996 Olympics football event said only a foreign tactician can help the Super Eagles back to the peak again. “I think the NFF need to hire a foreign coach to take charge of the Super Eagles; the Super Eagles have failed to make

NFF considers Dutch coach for Falcons

he Nigeria Football Federation are in advanced talks with Dutch coach Hesterine de Reus, who has handled Australia women’s team, to take over the Super Falcons. The 53-year-old has also worked with the Dutch FA, PSV Eindhoven women’s team as well as the Jordan women’s team, leading them to win the 2010 Arabia Cup. Also on her CV are her stints with the Netherlands U-15, U-16 and U-19

women’s teams between 2002 and 2010. Over a decade, she won 43 caps for her native country. “The NFF are in serious talks with Hesterine and it is hoped an agreement will be reached very soon,” a top source told only AfricanFootball.com Coach of Sweden to the recent Women’s world Cup in Canada, Pia Sundhage, was also being considered to take over the African champions.

But she will later say she does not consider herself good enough for the post. Nigeria are shopping for a top-rated coach for Falcons after the country failed to again go past the group stage of the World Cup in Canada despite the quality and class of players in the team. Rivers Angels coach Edwin Okon has been fired and Chris Danjuma has been appointed in a temporary capacity.

ment will cover players currently with the club, which was relegated to the Nigeria National League after poor runs during the 2013/2014 premier league season. NAN reports that the players have staged series of demonstrations over the non- payment of the salaries and allowances. Currently, they have not trained since their last home match with Kogi United on June 28, vowing not to honour

any of their matches until they are paid. The team has won three of its home matches and drew one since the commencement of the season, but lost the three away matches it played against Yobe Desert Stars, Katsina SpotLight and Supreme Court FC, Abuja. The Club is currently supervised by the Sports Ministry following the dissolution of its 13-member board in June by Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai.

much impact since they won the African Cup of Nations in 2013 and it has to do with the inability of the coaches to take the team to new heights,” Bonfrere said. “Personally, I don’t think Stephen Keshi has what it takes to take the team beyond where they are now, so the decision made by the NFF to sack him was the right one. The next task before them now is to carefully look for a capable foreign coach that can help improve the performance of the team,” he added. Swede’s Lars Lagerbäck who led Nigeria to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa was the last expatriate to handle the country’s senior national football team.

NFF’s sacking of Keshi long overdue, says Gaiya

for mer Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Godfrey Gaiya, has commended the Nigeria Football Federation for the termination of the contract of former Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi. Gaiya told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that the action was long overdue. “Keshi’s sack is an action that has been overdue. I am in support of the federation in taking the bold step. The action is just right. “Anywhere in the world, a coach is only as good as his last match. Before his reappointment, it was on record

Govt approves N24m for Kaduna United players he Kaduna State Government, owners of Kaduna United FC, has approved the release of N24 million to off-set part of the 19 months salary arrears and claims owed players and officials of the club. The Media Officer of the club, Uba Ibrahim told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna on Monday that the amount would cover the arrears of first and second quarter of 2014. According to him, the pay-

that in his last 14 matches, Keshi won only three. “He couldn’t qualify us for the AFCON in Equatorial Guinea. So, if good performance is a yardstick for renewing the contract of a coach, then NFF has no reason renewing his contract,’’ Gaiya said. “The best way forward is for the NFF to open its eyes and search for the best coach for the National team, no matter where the coach is coming from. “We must be able to get the very best like other nations are doing. We must get a coach, who has a lot to offer us and willing to go to any part of Nigeria to scout for talented players,” he added.

Abesan Cup final holds July 26 • MasterSports gives out jerseys Ifeanyi Ibeh

Abuchi Okereke of F.C IfeanyiUbah against Joseph Izu of 3SC

he finals of the 2015 edition of one of the foremost grassroots football tournaments in Lagos, the Abesan Cup, will take place on July 26. The final will be between Rozie FC of Iyana Ipaja and Onigando Academy of Igando. According to a statement made available to New Telegraph by the tournament’s coordinator, Tayo Adeyemo, the final will come up at the Alade Stadium, Ajasa. Kickoff is scheduled for 4pm. Both teams are aiming to win the competition for the first time. Since the tournament’s inception in 1999, no team has won the it back to back.

The third-place match between Sammy FC of Ijegun and last year’s finalist Adonai of Agege will come up on the same day at noon. The 2013 and 2014 finals of the tournament were held at Agege Stadium and Yaba College of Technology respectively owing to the reconstruction of the Alade Stadium. Meanwhile, more sponsors have identified with the organisers. MasterSports International will provide kits for the four teams. This was revealed by the CEO of MasterSports and one of the tournament’s patrons, Ejiro Omonode. Another patron, Prince Femi Akinyele of Brandvision had earlier donated twenty match balls to the organisers.

Sport

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Serena wins battle of sisters

erena Williams beat her elder sister Venus in a Grand Slam match for the first time in six years to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals. The world number one came through 6-4 6-3 in one hour and eight minutes on Centre Court. Serena, two years younger at 33, has now won 15 of the American siblings’ 26 professional contests. She remains on course to complete the third leg of a possible calendar Grand Slam. “It’s never easy to play someone you love and care about,” said the world number one. “You just play for the competition and enjoy the moment.” Illness and injury

Nigeria’s Musa (left) in action for Eagles

have hampered Venus since her last Wimbledon title in 2008, but with five Wimbledon singles crowns apiece, the fourth round was still an early stage for such a heavyweight encounter. “It definitely doesn’t get any easier,” Serena said after their sixth Wimbledon meeting. “I thought, ‘I’m 33 and she’s 35, I don’t know how many more moments like this you’re going to have’.” Venus said: “We’ve played a lot of years and we’ve tried to be entertaining. “We won’t be playing forever, but clearly we’re playing at a very high level now. When that moment is over, it will

Serena

be over. It’s not now.” Venus showed why she remains a real threat in the early stages of both sets, coming back to level at 2-2 in the first and taking a 3-2 lead on serve in the second.

Musa to replace Enyeama as Eagles captain NTTF names four players for Africa Cup

SKA Moscow forward, Ahmed Musa, has been lined up to be the next captain of Super Eagles when Vincent Enyeama is stripped of the captaincy, africanFootball. com reports. Lille goalkeeper Enyeama is expected to be dropped as the country’s skipper after his recent act of indiscipline when

on national team duty. Musa led the Super Eagles when the team faced South Africa in a friendly earlier this year. The former Flying Eagles star made his international debut against Madagascar in 2011 in Calabar and has half a century of caps now. A top official informed africanFootball.com besides his seniority in the

national team, his comportment on and off the pitch has been exemplary. At only 22, he will be one of the youngest players ever to lead the country’s team. The pacy forward featured at the 2013 African Nations Cup which Nigeria won in South Africa and scored twice against Argentina at last year’s World Cup in Brazil.

he Nigeria Table Tennis Federation on Monday named the four players that will represent the country at the Africa Cup Championships holding in Cameroon from July 21 to July 23. NTTF Technical Director, Anderson Bankole, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the four players,

two male and two female, were carefully selected based on their current form and performance. The male players, he said, were Segun Toriola and Quadri Aruna the 2014 International Table Star Player award winner, while the female players were Funke Oshonaike and Edem Offiong. According to Bankole,

Basketball Flakes Aminu puts up LA Onuaku leads US to FIBA U-19 glory home for rent

igerian basketball star, Al-Farouq Aminu, has decided to rent out his home in California for $6,000 a month after signing a four-year, $30 million deal with the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers. Aminu’s house is a two-storey building and, according to a report by Fox News, is situated in one of the most prominent neighbourhood in the Californian town of Playa Vista. Playa Vista, according to real estate website, realtor.com, offers “a pool, spa, gym, parks, schools, retail, movie theatre, trails, free beach shuttle and easy access to freeways, West LA, South Bay, Downtown and LAX (Los Angeles) Airport.” Aminu started his NBA career five years ago with the Los Angeles Clippers. He also played for the Denver Nuggets and spent last season with the Dallas Mavericks, leading the side to the Western Conference playoffs.

igerian-born Chinanu Onuaku at the weekend led the United States to victory in the final of the FIBA U19 World Championship in Greece. The US defeated Croatia 79-71 in overtime to defend the title they won two years ago. The win secured backto-back FIBA crowns for the Americans for the first time since 1983. Onuaku led the American team with 12 blocked shots in seven games. He also averaged 4.6 points and 5 rebounds per game while shooting 72.2 percent. He also started in six of the seven games played by the Americans. Onuaku, an undergraduate at the University of

Louisville, was instrumental to his side’s victory over the Croats as he recorded a big block in overtime, and finished with 6 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks. The 6-10, Onuaku, whose older brother, Arinze, plays in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves, is a renowned shot blocker and recorded 42 blocked shots last season in action for his university’s basketball team, the Cardinals. Nigeria is Africa’s most successful side at the U-19 World Championship and qualified for six successive editions beginning from its maiden appearance in Italy, in 1987, but has not taken part in the tournament since the year 2007 edition in Serbia.

the selected players are the current good hands in the federation and capable of doing the country proud at the three-day tournament. “They are experienced players who I am confident of their abilities. They have been representing the country in many international competitions and have been putting in their best,’’ he said.

with Ifeanyi Ibeh 08180766066

Chinanu Onuaku executes a dunk against Argentina

D’Tigress must go on training tour – Adelanwa

A Al-Farouq Aminu’s LA home

former coach of Nigeria’s national team, Alabi Adelanwa, has called on the Nigeria Basketball Federation to arrange a training tour for the country’s women’s national team ahead of the basketball event of the All-Africa Games and the 2015 African Women Basketball Championship - AfroBasket. The All-Africa Games takes place in Brazzaville, Congo, from

September 4 to 19, while the AfroBasket runs from September 24 to October 3 in Cameroon. And Adelanwa who took a swipe at the NBBF for the team’s poor preparations for both championships, wants the federation to arrange for the D’Tigress to embark on a twoweek training tour to Europe. The Lady Tigers will take on defending champions Angola, Senegal, Guinea and

Algeria, in Group B, and the former national team coach believes it would be a difficult tournament for the 2003 and 2005 AfroBasket champions. He nevertheless feels that a prompt response by the NBBF, regarding an European training tour for the team, coupled with a dedicated and disciplined crop of players and coaching crew, would guarantee the desired results.

NEW TELEGRAPH TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015

Atiku: Lest we forget! Cassidy Madueke

here is a sad culture in Nigeria which makes it normal for us to despise our leaders automatically once they have been in government. We declare all of them corrupt, evil, wicked, lying, and scheming and any other name we can come up with. We sling mud at them and address them disrespectfully. The comments section of many print and online newspapers is right there for anyone who cares to confirm what I mean. While there are indeed people who have done us wrong, this culture is harmful to our future as a country and to the minds of our young people. Sometimes, we should not let them forget that there is some good in our leaders, that some of the benefits they enjoy today were fought for by men whom they habitually insult and despise. Atiku Abubakar is one of those leaders who seem to be a favourite punching bag for the Nigerian commenters. At the slightest opportunity, people whip out insults and accusations. His "personal ambitions" come under attack. But many of us watched the December 2014 APC Primaries live on TV, lauded the transparency and organization on display, and hailed the party for such a show - without us having any idea that none of that would have happened if not for the intervention of this same Atiku. For months prior to the primaries, forces within the APC were set on presenting a consensus candidate. They did not care for any voting. They did not bother about who else might want to contest or which candidate the delegates might favour. They had selected their candidate and they wanted to impose him on everyone else in the APC, whether they liked it or not. Atiku stood against this. He wanted a fair and open process, irrespective of who might win. He did not want the APC to become another PDP, to pick up the bad habits for which the former ruling party were notorious. He believed that choosing a candidate by consensus rather than by election would set a bad precedent for a party that promoted CHANGE. By insisting on elections, the former Vice President of Nigeria ended up offending some powerful people within the party, making a number of enemies in the process. This was not the first time Atiku earned strong enemies for his insistence on democracy and things being done the proper way. The former Vice President was also behind the failed bid by former president Olusegun Obasanjo to subvert the Nigerian Constitution, extend his stay in office and go for a third term. Thus, Nigeria was saved from the demon of third-termism that seems to plague many African countries and eventually plunge them into chaos. We continue to enjoy a smooth democracy and term limits that are in accordance with our sacred constitution. However, Obasanjo never forgave Atiku. He launched a vitriolic attack on his deputy's reputation, some of the scars of which remain on Atiku's public reputation today. Obasanjo also has been known to ac-

Buhari

Atiku

Obasanjo

Abacha

tively work to frustrate the political aspirations of Atiku. He seems to have sworn to spend the rest of his life paying Atiku back for frustration of his own ambitions. Atiku was also one of the marked enemies of the Sani Abacha dictatorship back in the 90s. He was one of those Nigerians who fought

to oust the military and establish democratic structures. As a result, his home in Kaduna was attacked in the middle of the night. The assailants overpowered the security guards on duty, gained access to the house, and entered through the bedroom of his first son, Adamu, who was then 20 years old. They beat Adamu up, tied his hands behind his back, and made their way towards the master bedroom. Atiku emerged with his wife, Titi, behind him, and told them: “It’s me you want. Here I am. Leave my son alone.” One of the men fired a shot that narrowly missed Atiku's head. Fortunately, one of his guards had jumped over the fence and alerted the police, who arrived shortly after. Unfortunately, six of the policemen lost their lives in the ensuing gun battle. After the attackers left, Atiku and his son picked up the bodies, loaded them in a van and drove to a nearby hospital in the middle of the night. Adamu was so traumatized that he could hardly eat anything for some weeks. This story has been reported by various media sources in the past.

This was not the first time Atiku earned strong enemies for his insistence on democracy and things being done the proper way

Despite this horror experience and the subsequent murder of his mentor, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, by the Abacha gover nment, and the seizing of some of his property and major businesses by the dictator, Atiku continued to speak out against tyranny and dictatorship. He continued to call for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria. He continued to reach out to well-meaning compatriots and sympathetic members of the international community, working with them to liberate Nigeria from the suffocating grip of Abacha’s reign of terror. Atiku has played an undeniable role in laying the foundations for the democracy that you and I enjoy today. Well, the APC presidential primaries held in December 2014 and Atiku lost. Even while the votes were still being counted, he accepted the results gracefully, dispatching a congratulatory message to General Muhammadu Buhari before the results were officially announced. Atiku did not stop there. He vowed to support the retired General in his bid to be president. Atiku was not just blowing hot air. He indeed supported the current president's bid to be president, in both cash and kind. He channelled his entire media operation to the APC presidential campaign effort, a media team that has become renowned for efficiency in media and publicity. Malam Garba Shehu, the former head of his personal media team, was appointed the head of the APC Campaign Organisation, a position he held with dignity and which he carried out with expertise in conjunction with others that included his successor at the Atiku Media Office, Mazi Paul Ibe. Malam Shehu is today President Buhari's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, a testament to the fact that he was never found wanting at his task and also an obvious sign of Atiku's continued support for President Buhari. In a country like Nigeria where tribalism and Balkanization are the order of the day, Atiku also stands out for his efforts to promote national unity. His marriage and business ties cut across tribe and tongue, as do his philanthropy and social obligations. Sadly, in the deeply-divided Nigeria we have today, few politicians can make such a claim. Atiku is also the leading employer of labour in Rivers State, with the majority of his staff being indigenes from the region. In Adamawa State, the Turaki is only second to the state government in the number of job opportunities he has created, and continues to create. The typical Nigerian politician might have a business in one part of the country, then employ people from his village and export them to work in that part of the country. Our Nigerian leaders have wronged us in many ways. We feel the effects of their mistakes every day. However, let us not forget the good they have done, no matter how little. Atiku Abubakar has his faults but he has gone through a lot to ensure that you and I enjoy the democracy that we do today. •Chief Madueke, a political analyst writes from Abuja.

On Marble

Sanctity of Truth

You will always feel insignificant if you never do anything to change the world or another person's life, other than your own.

World Record

The fastest time to complete a marathon on each continent and the North Pole (male) is 41 days, 20 hours, 38 minutes and 58 seconds and was achieved by Ziyad Tariq Rahim (Pakistan), from February 26, 2013

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Education agenda for Buhari Kunle Akogun

ith the inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s fifth democratically elected President, expectations are high across the land of a new beginning for the country in all facets of national life. It is obvious that Nigeria is currently hemorrhaging in all sectors of the economy. The education sector, in particular, is battling with corruption, inadequate funding, inadequate access by qualified students to university education, deficient curriculum content that results in the yearly production of virtually unemployable graduates, low quality of teachers at all levels, as well as steady dwindling performance of students in public examinations, among others. It is a well-known fact that any nation that truly desires to attain all-round economic development must have a sound education sector that will enhance human capital development. This is why the Buhari administration must make education one of its cardinal priorities and give it the urgent intervention it requires. It is true that the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, made some efforts towards increasing access to tertiary education with the establishment of more universities across all geo-political zones of the country. But this in itself could at best be described as mere palliative. For, shorn of the political end that such indiscriminate proliferation of universities were meant to serve, every right thinking individual knows for a fact that what the country actually needed was the expansion of the facilities in existing public universities and improvement in the quality of the instructions they dole out to their students. Thus, rather than just establishing more universities that could not be adequately staffed with qualified lecturers, the right thing to do would have been to ensure that existing ones are properly equipped and adequately funded for optimum performance. To be sure, the paucity of admission opportunities into Nigerian universities is one of the toughest challenges facing Nigerian youths today. Despite meeting all admission requirements including excellent performance at university-organised post-UTME examinations in addition to making above cut-off marks in the almighty JAMB entrance examinations, many admission seekers yearly fail in their attempts to get into the universities. The reason for this is simple: All the nation’s 147 or so universities could only admit about 520,000 of the 1,735,720 students that sat for last year's Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The University of Ilorin that is reputed to be the most subscribed university, by admission seekers, for instance, could only admit just 12,000 of the over 105,000 candidates that applied to the University in the 2014/2015 academic session. The truth is that the current carrying capacity of the accredited tertiary institutions in the country is abysmally low.

Buhari

This scenario has not only driven many promising youth out of the shores of the country in search of university admission, it has also fuelled the proliferation of fake and sub-standard ‘private universities’ in the country to which desperate admission seekers fall victims every year. This situation is a serious cause for concern and all hands must be on deck to rescue the nation from the spectre of sub-standard and ill-trained manpower in the future, a situation that could arise if the army of graduates from some of these foreign ‘universities’ eventually pour back into the country. In view of this, there is a pressing need to increase the carrying capacity of Nigerian tertiary institutions to be able to accommodate more admission seekers. The Buhari administration should, as a matter of urgency, revisit the megavarsity plan mooted some time ago by the Jonathan administration. In one of its meetings in April 2013, the National Economic Council (NEC) recommended to the then Federal Executive Council the conversion of one university in each of the six geo-political zones of the country to the status of a Mega University. The recommendation was informed by the need to expand the number of intakes by creating universities that will be able to admit up to 200,000 students each, at a go, as against the present less than 10,000 admitted yearly by some of the biggest universities in the country. The thinking is that when the scheme takes off, the six mega-universities would be able to collectively admit up to a maximum of 1.2million students yearly. If this happens, the number of qualified admission seekers that are yearly denied places in the nation’s tertiary institutions would be drastically reduced. However, as forward-looking as this proposal seemed, that administration failed to get it off the drawing table. Meanwhile, the number of admission seekers in the country keeps rising every year, with the concomitant result that

more and more desperate admission seekers are being driven to fake degree mills. The creation of these mega universities could be one of the best first steps to be taken by the Buhari administration, as it would be a desirable remedial measure to tackle university admission problems in the country. And if this is done, the University of Ilorin should be considered for the slot of the North-central Zone, while the University of Lagos could get the South-west slot, the University of Benin, the South-south slot and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, could be given the South-east slot. The North-west and North-east slots could go to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the University of Maiduguri, respectively. Another sore thumb in the nation’s education sector that yearns for urgent presidential surgical attention is the sickening non-employability of most of the graduates being churned out yearly by the nation’s tertiary educational institutions. No fewer than 1.8 million young Nigerians pour yearly into the almost saturated labour market. Statistics have shown than more than 60 percent of these “freshly minted” graduates are patently unemployable while less than 10 percent get absorbed into the labour market, one way or the other. It is an open economic secret that Nigeria is currently facing what could be described as “The paradox of economic growth without development”. This is as a result of the country’s unemployment crisis in the face of national economic growth, as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). On the average, Nigeria’s GDP has witnessed a relative growth when compared with the economies of many countries in the world. This growth has, however, not translated into job creation, as hundreds of thousands of graduates and other school leavers remain unemployed several years after leaving schools. Economists have described this unfortunate situation as “jobless growth”, as, unlike the reported growth in some other economies, Nigeria’s has been a case of “growth without development”. The undue emphasis placed on paper qualification as against aptitude and proficiency, has led to an unfortunate rat race to acquire certificates at all cost, even if the brain does not match the “stuff” on which the person is “certified”! This paper qualification syndrome has been largely responsible for the steady decline in the country’s educational system because most students tend to study just to pass a targeted examination. This lack of “skills-focused critical education”, identified recently by a UKbased Nigerian intellectual, Prof. Patrick Oseloka Ezepue, is a major bane of the nation’s higher education system. Delivering a public lecture recently at the University of Ilorin on the topic, “Higher Education Research-Training Excellence, Engaged Scholarship and High Impact Socio-Economic Development”, the Sheffield Hallam University scholar lamented that “the curriculum currently

used in tertiary institutions in the country is grossly inadequate as it cannot produce graduates that are ready for the employer or even make him an employer.” Another issue that is closely related to the above and which also requires urgent policy intervention is the consistent decline in students’ performance in public examinations conducted by such bodies as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examination Council (NECO) and the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB). The case is even worse in core foundational subjects like Mathematics and English in which the failure rates are scandalously high year in year out. One simple reason is responsible for this and that is the inadequacy or total lack of qualified teachers in most subjects, especially Mathematics. There are many public schools in this country today that do not have Mathematics teachers. In some cases, there may just be a single Mathematics teacher in a whole school! There is, therefore, an urgent need for the government to reverse this trend. There should be massive recruitment of teachers especially in the core-subject areas. Those on ground should be encouraged and assisted to go for constant training and retraining to update their knowledge and enhance their productivity. To be sure, stemming the steep decline in education is not a day’s job but at least the Buhari administration can start from somewhere, if only to convince the citizenry of its commitment to its self-imposed change agenda. As a first step, the declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector will not be an entirely bad idea. This must however be matched by visible action. Also, at least 20 percent of the country’s GDP should be devoted to education. And the disbursement and utilization of this must be properly monitored. • Akogun is Head, Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin

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